Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Blackpool
Encyclopedia
The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Blackpool, stands in Whinney Heys Road, Blackpool
, Lancashire
, England . It has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Historic Chapels Trust. Locally it has been known as the "white church".
was built between 1955 and 1957 to a design by Francis Xavier Verlarde. During the Second World War
Bishop Thomas E. Flynn, the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lancaster, prayed to Our Lady of Lourdes
, the patron saint
of the diocese
, to protect the diocese from war damage. By the end of the war it was relatively undamaged, and the bishop conceived the idea of building a thanksgiving chapel to commemorate this. It cost £50,000
(£ as of ), and every parish in the diocese made a subscription towards it. It was decided to build it in Blackpool, because of its geographical position and ease of access to visitors. The land on which it is sited was given by William Eaves, a local builder. During its active life it was occupied by different orders of Roman Catholic monks and nuns, including the nuns of the Congregation of Adoration of Marie Reparatrice, and the Blessed Sacrament Fathers. The shrine was deconsecrated
in 1993, and passed into the ownership of the Historic Chapels Trust in 2000. Although from its external appearance it seems to be in good condition, there is severe damage to its internal fabric. Because of this it has been placed on the Heritage at Risk
Register. A grant of £100,000 has been given by English Heritage towards its repair. The first phase of repairs was completed in April 2008, dealing with the leaking copper roof and improving the rainwater disposal system. It has been estimated that a total of £650,000 will be needed to convert the building into a community centre.
and has copper cladding to the roof and flèche
. Its plan is nearly rectangular, and it has four bays
. At the west end there is single-bay narthex
, and at the east end is an apse
forming the sanctuary
, and projecting vestries
. In the west front are double doors over which is a relief
frieze
of the Holy Trinity
by David John. David John also designed the pinnacle
s at the corners of the building; these depict Our Lady of Lourdes appearing to Saint Bernadette
, Christ appearing to Saint Margaret Mary
, Saint Thomas of Canterbury
, and Saint Edward the Confessor. On the sides of the building are rectangular panels of glazing, filled with square and lozenge patterns of red and blue glass. At the entrance to the building are York stone
steps with stone flanking walls. In the interior are arcades
clad in gold mosaic
. The ceiling is coloured blue, red and gold, and the floor of the body of the shrine is tiled. The sanctuary
is raised and approached on marble
steps through a round arch; its floor is marble with mosaic panels. The altar rails are bronze
with an Art Deco
design. The altar and reredos
were carved by David John.
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England . It has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Historic Chapels Trust. Locally it has been known as the "white church".
History
The shrineShrine
A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
was built between 1955 and 1957 to a design by Francis Xavier Verlarde. During the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Bishop Thomas E. Flynn, the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lancaster, prayed to Our Lady of Lourdes
Our Lady of Lourdes
Our Lady of Lourdes is the name used to refer to the Marian apparition said to have appeared before various individuals on separate occasions around Lourdes, France...
, the patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of the diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
, to protect the diocese from war damage. By the end of the war it was relatively undamaged, and the bishop conceived the idea of building a thanksgiving chapel to commemorate this. It cost £50,000
(£ as of ), and every parish in the diocese made a subscription towards it. It was decided to build it in Blackpool, because of its geographical position and ease of access to visitors. The land on which it is sited was given by William Eaves, a local builder. During its active life it was occupied by different orders of Roman Catholic monks and nuns, including the nuns of the Congregation of Adoration of Marie Reparatrice, and the Blessed Sacrament Fathers. The shrine was deconsecrated
Deconsecration
Deconsecration is the act of removing a religious blessing from something that had been previously consecrated by a minister or priest of that religion. The same act when performed by a member of a differing religion may be considered a curse by some religions and not a complete removal of the...
in 1993, and passed into the ownership of the Historic Chapels Trust in 2000. Although from its external appearance it seems to be in good condition, there is severe damage to its internal fabric. Because of this it has been placed on the Heritage at Risk
Heritage at Risk
Heritage at Risk is a collective term applied to 'designated' heritage assets that are at risk as a result of neglect, decay or inappropriate development, or are vulnerable to becoming so.In England, an annual Heritage at Risk Register is published by English Heritage...
Register. A grant of £100,000 has been given by English Heritage towards its repair. The first phase of repairs was completed in April 2008, dealing with the leaking copper roof and improving the rainwater disposal system. It has been estimated that a total of £650,000 will be needed to convert the building into a community centre.
Architecture
The chapel is constructed in Portland stonePortland stone
Portland stone is a limestone from the Tithonian stage of the Jurassic period quarried on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. The quarries consist of beds of white-grey limestone separated by chert beds. It has been used extensively as a building stone throughout the British Isles, notably in major...
and has copper cladding to the roof and flèche
Flèche
A flèche is used in French architecture to refer to a spire and in English to refer to a lead-covered timber spire, or spirelet. These are placed on the ridges of church or cathedral roofs and are usually relatively small...
. Its plan is nearly rectangular, and it has four bays
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
. At the west end there is single-bay narthex
Narthex
The narthex of a church is the entrance or lobby area, located at the end of the nave, at the far end from the church's main altar. Traditionally the narthex was a part of the church building, but was not considered part of the church proper...
, and at the east end is an apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
forming the sanctuary
Sanctuary
A sanctuary is any place of safety. They may be categorized into human and non-human .- Religious sanctuary :A religious sanctuary can be a sacred place , or a consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.- Sanctuary as a sacred place :#Sanctuary as a sacred place:#:In...
, and projecting vestries
Vestry
A vestry is a room in or attached to a church or synagogue in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept , and in which the clergy and choir robe or don their vestments for divine service....
. In the west front are double doors over which is a relief
Relief
Relief is a sculptural technique. The term relief is from the Latin verb levo, to raise. To create a sculpture in relief is thus to give the impression that the sculpted material has been raised above the background plane...
frieze
Frieze
thumb|267px|Frieze of the [[Tower of the Winds]], AthensIn architecture the frieze is the wide central section part of an entablature and may be plain in the Ionic or Doric order, or decorated with bas-reliefs. Even when neither columns nor pilasters are expressed, on an astylar wall it lies upon...
of the Holy Trinity
Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons : the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct yet coexist in unity, and are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial . Put another way, the three persons of the Trinity are of one being...
by David John. David John also designed the pinnacle
Pinnacle
A pinnacle is an architectural ornament originally forming the cap or crown of a buttress or small turret, but afterwards used on parapets at the corners of towers and in many other situations. The pinnacle looks like a small spire...
s at the corners of the building; these depict Our Lady of Lourdes appearing to Saint Bernadette
Bernadette Soubirous
Saint Marie-Bernarde Soubirous was a miller's daughter born in Lourdes. From 11 February to 16 July 1858, she reported 18 apparitions of "a small young lady" who asked for a chapel to be built at that site at Lourdes....
, Christ appearing to Saint Margaret Mary
Marguerite Marie Alacoque
Marguerite Marie Alacoque or Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque was a French Roman Catholic nun and mystic, who promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in its modern form.-Early life:...
, Saint Thomas of Canterbury
Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion...
, and Saint Edward the Confessor. On the sides of the building are rectangular panels of glazing, filled with square and lozenge patterns of red and blue glass. At the entrance to the building are York stone
Yorkstone
Yorkstone is a term for a variety of sandstone, specifically from quarries in Yorkshire that have been worked since medieval times, but now applied generally. Yorkstone is a tight grained, Carboniferous sedimentary rock...
steps with stone flanking walls. In the interior are arcades
Arcade (architecture)
An arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
clad in gold mosaic
Mosaic
Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It may be a technique of decorative art, an aspect of interior decoration, or of cultural and spiritual significance as in a cathedral...
. The ceiling is coloured blue, red and gold, and the floor of the body of the shrine is tiled. The sanctuary
Sanctuary
A sanctuary is any place of safety. They may be categorized into human and non-human .- Religious sanctuary :A religious sanctuary can be a sacred place , or a consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.- Sanctuary as a sacred place :#Sanctuary as a sacred place:#:In...
is raised and approached on marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
steps through a round arch; its floor is marble with mosaic panels. The altar rails are bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
with an Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
design. The altar and reredos
Reredos
thumb|300px|right|An altar and reredos from [[St. Josaphat's Roman Catholic Church|St. Josaphat Catholic Church]] in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. This would be called a [[retable]] in many other languages and countries....
were carved by David John.