Heritage Now

HERITAGE NOW (01/2021) AUTUMN 2021   23 CASEWORK ble building. On occasion we can countenance selective culling and improved mobility (pews on castors) but generally pews last longer than chairs, they are impossible to steal, can be tailored to individual needs by cushions and are favoured by the fire service. Similar discussions on seating arrangements are ongoing at St Cynyw, Llangy- nyw (Llangyniew), Powys; Great Ashfield, Suffolk, and at Egloshayle, Cornwall – the latter proposal has been withdrawn after DAC intervention. We recently won a case in North Lancashire – at Over Kellet over the removal of the doors to the set of early 19th century pews. The chancellor has directed that they must go back after removal in advance of consent. SWANSEA , GLAMORGAN, MOUNT PLEASANT BAPTIST CHURCH, THE KINGSWAY This Grade II* chapel (with healthy congregation) in the Classical style was built between 1874 and 1876 by George Morgan. When faced with clear objections from the AMS and the city council to anything more destructive, the final version of the proposal modifies but retains key elements of the interiors, including the pews and pulpit which were destined for removal. A proposed asym- metrical glass balustrade to the portico has been dropped and although we would normally contest carpets in an ecclesiastical context, here we did not oppose the introduction of good quality floor covering in two (sober) tones. The original floor- boards will stay at gallery level. The promised replacement of plastic rainwater goods over time with new versions in cast iron and the substitu- tion now of the few windows in uPVC in timber is welcome. WALSALL, STAFFS, ST MARY’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH One gets a very real sense that the architect, John Ireland was designing for a hostile environment −there are no windows in the east and west ends at all, nothing for a mob to smash. Today, anti-social behaviour is a major problem and we have every sympathy with the priest, who lives in the adja- cent presbytery (1833), who wants to improve the public realm and reduce the risk of molestation. We commented on details only. If the design of 1825 was intended to repel the hostile, the site chosen, in what is now Vicarage Walk, struck the opposite note. It is prominent on a small hill and has only latterly been shrouded by trees. WEST GRINSTEAD, WEST SUSSEX, SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF CONSOLATION AND ST FRANCIS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH In 1863 the Catholic mission at West Grinstead was revived by a French priest who was asked by the Bishop of Southwark to mark the revival by commissioning ‘ a miniature French Cathedral’. Fr Jean-Marie Denis, and his architect, John Crawley, made a serious start in 1875 but it was left to Fred- erick Walters to complete what is now an imposing building in 1896. The tower, built in memory of Hilaire Belloc who was buried in the churchyard in 1953, was completed in 1964 (by Riley and Glan- field). And the interior is soon to be even more special with the importation of a font that is to be displaced from St Thomas’ Anglican church at Salisbury. We have urged strongly that the canopy, designed by Doran Webb, and font are moved as an entity.   ——————— ABOVE: Walsall, St Mary’s Roman Catholic church, a powerfully austere design, now listed Grade II*, was begun three years before Catholic Emancipation in 1828. (Matthew Saunders)