FROM THE ARCHITECT

This article by Gillespie Kidd & Coia was originally printed in the Solemn Opening booklet in 1964, and was reprinted in the 50th Anniversary booklet in 2014.

The new Church of St Bride's is prominently sited on a high banking overlooking Whitemoss Road, between Laigh Common and Platthorn R.C. School. In addition to the church itself, there are sacristies, a presbytery to accommodate a parish priest and two curates, a guild room and a campanile 90-feet high, the group forming three sides of a piazza which is bounded on the fourth side by the banking to Whitemoss Road, and partially screened by the long side of the tower. Access to the piazza from Whitemoss Road is by a long broad flight of steps between the presbytery and the campanile. This staircase has embedded electric heating to assist the dispersal of snow and ice. There is a secondary access from Whitemoss Road by means of a ramp rising from street level to the piazza. From Platthorn Drive access is by a covered pedestrian way. The piazza is contoured to rise slightly towards the main door of the church.

The plan of the church, which will seat approximately 800, is in the form of a broad rectangle, with a free standing gallery, under which are placed a side chapel, confessionals and baptistery, the whole being contained by a single volume lit from the roof, and enclosed by a massive load bearing brick wall, deeply pierced, recessed and modelled to provide an expressive enclosing surface, full use being made of traditional brick detailing in the form of corbelling, projections and arching. Formal entry is gained by means of doors concealed in a tall, slot-like opening situated centrally in the west wall, and curving into the brick mass.

Both internally and externally the walling is of facing brick. The floor is of large scale stone paving, and the ceiling consists of varnished pine slats concealing a steel-framed roof and patent glazing. Additional natural lighting is provided by three tall, copper-clad "dormers" projecting high above the roof line, and throwing concealed lighting on to the sanctuary. The altars, font, stoups, foundation stone, etc., are all in granite.

The presbytery, an L-shaped, mainly single storey structure of complex modelling, is linked by a short tunnel to the sacristies, and so to the church itself. Facing brick has been used externally, with timber windows and copper-clad fascia and sills. Varnished timber is used extensively inside in conjunction with plastered walls.

The campanile consists of two brick slabs with a slatted timber screen infilling, and is poised over the bank, dominating the group.

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