The below are notes on the heritage methods taken to save St Mary's Church, Old Goole.
Conservation Area
The building is not in a location suitable for designating as a Conservation Area.
Listing
In 2008 a member of the public submitted a the Church for listing but received a negative response. A further attempt was made to list the church in 2012. The basis of the submitted proposal was:
Location: Swinefleet Road ,
Old Goole
Date: 1933-1938
Local Significance:
St Mary’s Church was
built to replace an earlier nearby Mission
Church London ,
Midland and
Scottish Railway Co. in exchange for the site of the old church and school rooms. The building of the church began in 1933 and it
is built in a modern architectural style. The site also includes a church hall
built at the same time and in the same architectural style. Due to lack of
funds, the church was not completed until 1938, when it was dedicated to St
Mary by the Bishop of Sheffield. Dr L.H. Burrows gave a grant of £2,000 from
the Sheffield Diocese in 1938. When the church was built, it was considered to
have modern lighting and architecture as well as traditional church elements
taken from the old church. When the building opened in 1938, fixtures from the
original St Mary’s Church were moved into the building.
The church hall is built
in red/brown facing brick in raking bond. The style of the hall is modern with
classical and gothic influence. The north elevation of the building consists of
a west front incorporating an entrance with pediment and flanking buildings.
The central entrance consists of a shouldered pediment linking into the cornice
of the flanking parapet walls. The entrance architrave is formed by a round
headed projecting arch with brick springing points, voussoirs and key stone.
The flanking extensions have brick plinths and parapet, with stepped brick
cornice. Each flanking extension contains two square profile windows. The
central entrance has a pitched roof and the flanking walls flat roofs below the
level of the parapet. Set within each wall is a dedication stone, with the following
details:
·
“This
Stone was laid by Henry Silvester White ESQ to commemorate the granting of a
charter of incorporation to the town of Goole
·
“This
Stone was laid by the most honourable Marchioness Townsend of Raynham November
2nd 1933.”
Set behind this is the
main section of the hall. The hall consists of four bays. On the east elevation
the first bay is separated from the entrance elevation with a brick buttress.
The west elevation bays are also separated by brick buttresses with no buttress
at the south elevation. There is no plinth along this elevation and the eaves
finish at the top of the elevation. Set within the first, third and fourth
elevations are two square profile windows. Set within the second bay is a brick
chimney stack which projects over the eaves. The roof is constructed from slate
with coping stones along the apex. The east elevation of the hall copies the
west with the exception of a door in place of the windows on the second bay.
The church building is
constructed from brown facing brick in raking bond. The style of the church is
modern but with Italian influences. The plan of the building consists of nave,
chancel with flanking chapels and apse. The south and north elevations of the
nave each consist of four bays defined by engaged colonnades, with the columns
acting as buttresses. Set within each of three bays are double headed round
arched windows and the remaining bay a round headed door opening to the north
elevation and a porch entrance on the south elevation. Architectural features
are defined in brick work. The roof is pitched and the chapel roofs lean onto
the chancel. The chapels are built in plain brick with blind round headed door
openings to their west elevation and three round headed windows set within the
south and north elevations. The apse takes the form of a half hexagon. Set
within three of the sides is a double headed arched window. In the east
elevation is a dedication stone with the inscription:
“TO THE RADIANT GLORY OF THE INCARNATION. THIS STONE WAS LAID BY THE
HONOURABLE THE MARCHIONESS TOWNSEND OF RAYNHAM ON NOVEMBER 2ND 1933.”
The west elevation has
a later extension. The remaining features of the elevation consist of a triple
headed arched window and single arched window set with the gable. At the pitch
of gable is a stone cross. The extension is rectangular in form and at the West
end consists of three square profile windows.
Internal features of
the church include an apse ceiling depicting a gold cross shining through the
clouds. It was hand painted by Messrs J.G and H.W Fisk, who ran a business from
77 Swinefleet Road ,
Old Goole. The majority of the stonework, interior decoration and carpentry was
by labourers of Goole and Old Goole.
The building has
architectural significance in its modern style of architecture and is a rare
form of architecture in the local area. The church represents local
craftsmanship and many of the residents of the town are related to those who
built the church. The church and hall have been used by many residents for
religious ceremonies and social functions and are part of the community value
of Old Goole. The building also has local historic significance as set within
the hall is a tablet dedicated to the incorporation of the town in 1933. This
tablet is unique as there are no other forms of commemoration within the town.
Threats:
The church was closed
in 2008 and since then most of the fittings have been removed. The font, bell
and two pews (from the original St Mary’s Church) have been taken into the care
of the St Mary’s Heritage Centre. A committee was formed in February 2010 with
the aim of re-opening the church as a community facility. A petition of 2,000 community members has
been signed in support of using the church as a Community Church
The building was not forwarded for listing as it was deemed no new evidence had been provided since 2008:
Thank you for your application to add the above building to the List of Buildings of Special
Architectural or Historic Interest.
This building was considered for Listing in 2008. At that time, the Secretary of State for
Culture, Media and Sport decided not to add the building to the List of Buildings of Special
Architectural or Historic Interest. We will therefore not be taking your application any further,
unless you are able to provide us with substantial new evidence that was not considered
during the previous assessment. I attach a copy of our previous advice report for your
information.
The building of this church began in November 1933 and replaced an earlier church of 1865 on a different site. It is simply designed in brick with the usual cruciform plan. Windows are generally round-headed, paired or in triplicate with leaded glass. Internally the church is very simple with unpainted brick walls. The fixtures including altar, font, lectern, and pews were all re-used from the earlier Victorian church and the apse roof is adorned with a depiction of a cross shining through clouds. The adjacent hall is of a similar construction and retains its original stage.
Because of the large numbers of C20 churches surviving nationally, a high level of selectivity is necessary and only those which display a high level of architectural quality and intactness will be added to the list. Other factors looked for in places of worship include high quality design and artistic embellishment; association with a nationally significant architect, designer or artist; and innovative construction.
This church displays simplicity of design and finishing which while attractive, is not of the highest architectural quality demanded of the listing criteria for a church of this date. For its date, the design of the church is also very conservative and few 1930s architectural influences can be identified. Although undoubtedly of local significance, not least for its strong local ties, particularly with the local craftsmen who contributed to its construction and finishing, unfortunately it is not of sufficient special architectural interest in a national context to merit listing.
A Letter Appealing to List the Building:
Further research has resulted in new information about the design and construction of the Church and Church Hall. The research has resulted in the discovery of the architect and contractors. The architect was a Mr F Turner, of Carlisle Street, Goole. The architect designed several building in the local area, including a Gothic revival church. The design of the St Mary’s Church and Church Hall mark a new style for the architect. The contractor for the construction of the buildings was a Mr Edwin Mitchell of Howden.
Although designed by a local architect the plans were approved by the principle architect of the Incorporated Church Building Society, Sir Charles Nicholson. The approval was considered a guarantee that the building would be of a high standard. The Society also contributed £75 for the construction of the Church. In respect to the decision notice further weight should be attributed to the Bishop of Sheffield’s fund and the fact that the Churches constructed with this fund were built against the back drop of economic decline.
An article from the Goole Times, dated 28.7.1933, provides information which outlines details of the architectural significance of the building. It was noted that the building marked a departure from the usual church material of the time – stone and red brick – been constructed in rustic brick. Various shades of rustic brick were selected for the construction, including dark crimson and brown, with a facing brick selected for dressings. Further research should be undertaken that considers the rarity of using such materials in church buildings during the period.
The design of the buildings also carries some merit. The article describes further innovations in the design of the buildings as the interior of the building was finished in brick work, with the ornament been provided by the structure itself, which largely consists of Norman arches. The use of Norman architecture within a modern design itself could be considered unusual for the period. Further design elements noted within the article give details of the plan of the Church. The building was constructed with a Choir but no Chancel, with the remainder of the church incorporating a Nave, West end, Vestry and Organ Chamber. Given the style and design of the building the Church can be considered a transitional phase of building, incorporating a mixture of traditional and modern church elements. The design of the Church Hall was intended to replicate the architecture of the Church and incorporates facilities for community events and Church education.
The Church and Church Hall were also designed to be a design feature in the town, with the buildings located in a prominent position on the entrance to Old Goole. Given the time of construction the buildings mark a significant change in building design for the Town of Goole and the wider area. The retention of both the Church and Church Hall in near complete condition should be considered of significance. Research of similar building types has found no other examples of the style of architecture within the region.
A review of the Heritage Gateway of 20th Century Church architecture (using the search criteria 1930-1939 Church buildings, national location) has noted no directly comparable listed Church buildings. Those buildings which do have some comparison are mostly constructed from plain red brick and were built in a modern style incorporating features of the Art Deco and Scandinavian movement. There is no direct comparison of a 1930s Church building constructed in rustic brick in a modern design influenced by Norman Architecture. The majority of buildings listed within the criteria are on a much larger scale and located in large Parishes within major Cities or large towns. There are no examples of Church architecture of the period designated built on a small scale within a small township such as Old Goole, within the small Parish of Goole. The Heritage Gateway search further shows that there are only two examples of a Church and Church Hall designated as one entity and a further Church listed with the addition of Church Rooms to the rear. Considering the unity of design of the St Mary’s Church and Church Hall a value of significance should be attached to group value of the buildings.
A Response to the Appeal:
'Although the points are well presented, they would not be regarded by the Department of Culture Media and Sport as being substantive new information sufficient to justify a reassessment of the building. We therefore cannot take this application forward for assessment. The information does not change the view set out in our 2008 advice that the "church displays simplicity of design and finishing which while attractive, is not of the highest architectural quality demanded of the listing criteria for a church of this date". I also disagree with a number of the suggestions such as the use of the interior brickwork structure being innovatory in providing ornament to the interior (this being a typical approach taken with many churches from at least the late C19, most often with cheaply built examples that are rarely listed) and the unification of the design of the church and hall being unusual (again this is seen with many churches nationally from the later C19 onwards, it is rarely noted in listing descriptions because it is not unusual).'
Local Listing
In 2012 the Goole Civic Society prepared a Local List of Heritage Assets based on public consultation, including St Mary's Church. This document was approved by the Goole Town Council. However despite much effort the Local Authority Conservation Department would not accept a full list. They did concede to the policy of Local Heritage Assets based on a case by case basis.
Conclusion
Sadly Heritage bodies will not consider the building as national interest but accept that it has local interest. This local interest is based on the local crafts men who built the Church and Hall and the unique nature of the buildings being the only physical commemoration of the 1933 Incorporation of the Town. The only Heritage option left therefore is to nominate the building as a non-designated Heritage Asset when a new planning application is proposed, and push the Local Authority to enact the National Planning Policy Framework.
