An assemblage of Catholic buildings of the early 1930s, very much in the municipal Tudor style of the day, including a presbytery, hall and the church dedicated to St John the Evangelist and St Erconwald. The architect for the group was Frank Sherrin, and it was built at the behest of the Catholic Petre family of Ingatestone Hall. The church superceded the chapel there, and as part of this process the Morris & Co glass of 1907 in the chapel, made to the designs of Edward Burne-Jones, was brought here, and was augmented by the same company using designs by Burne-Jones and J H Dearle. The glass depicts the figures of saints, among them St Sebastian, St John, Our Lady of Lourdes, St Erconwald and St Edward, all in the lush romantic style of the workshop.
Perhaps even more exciting is the glass by Reginald Hallward, 1931 designed for the new church, depicting St William of York, St Helena, St Thomas of Canterbury in mostly purples and pinks. They greatly contrast with the Morris & Co windows, but all added together create a tremendous jewel-like effect, a harmonious and numinous interior that is not typical of its date, despite the architecture.
Contact Name: Parish Priest: Fr Gary Dench
Email: hutton@brcdt.org
Phone: 01277 221917
Website: www.ingatestonecatholicchurch.co.uk
Address:
The Presbytery, Roman Road
Ingatestone
CM4 9AA
