Roman Catholic Parish of Stevenage

A modern church of the 1950s, built to serve one of the neighbourhoods of the New Town, which was altered virtually out of recognition in the 1980s. Only the bell tower survives from the original design, and is something of a local landmark.

Stevenage was designated the first post-war New Town on 1 August 1946. The town was planned with six self-contained neighbourhoods, starting with the Stoney Hall and Monks Wood estates in 1951. Bedwell was laid out in 1952, followed by Broadwater and Shephall (1953), Chells (1960s) and later Pin Green and Symonds Green.  In Bedwell, the Development Corporation allocated a prominent corner site in Bedwell Crescent for the erection of a church, presbytery and school. The church and presbytery were built from designs by Sterrett & Blouet A/ARIBA of London, the church being solemnly opened by Archbishop Godfrey on 8 July 1957. This was designed ‘in the contemporary manner and in full sympathy with the general and pleasing development of the neighbourhood unit of Stevenage New Town’ (CBR, 1957). It had a seating capacity of 500, and the contract price of the church and presbytery was £39,100.

In the 1980s, the church was drastically remodelled, from designs said to be by Williams & Winkley but carried out by voluntary parish labour (information from Chris Fanning and Josie Newton). The orientation was turned round, so that the altar was placed at the west end. The height of the building was reduced, and the previously mainly glazed west front and former baptistery were clad with tiles. The only feature which remains unaltered is the brick bell tower.

Credit: Taking Stock