| Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes | |
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| Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Blackpool10.JPG Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Blackpool from the northwest |
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Location in Lancashire
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| General information | |
| Type | Shrine |
| Address | Whinney Heys Road |
| Town or city | Blackpool, Lancashire |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | |
| Construction started | 1955 |
| Completed | 1957 |
| Renovated | 2008 |
| Cost |
£50,000 (£900,000 as of 2012),[1] |
| Renovation cost | £650,000 (estimated) |
| Design and construction | |
| Owner | Historic Chapels Trust |
| Architect | Francis Xavier Verlarde |
| Website | |
| Historic Chapels Trust | |
The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Blackpool, stands in Whinney Heys Road, Blackpool, Lancashire, England (grid reference SD332368). It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building,[2] and is under the care of the Historic Chapels Trust.[3] Locally it has been known as the "white church".[4]
Contents |
The shrine was built between 1955 and 1957 to a design by Francis Xavier Verlarde.[3] 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.[2] It cost £50,000 (£900,000 as of 2012),[1] 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.[2] The shrine was deconsecrated in 1993, and passed into the ownership of the Historic Chapels Trust in 2000.[4] 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.[5] A grant of £100,000 has been given by English Heritage towards its repair.[4] The first phase of repairs was completed in April 2008, dealing with the leaking copper roof and improving the rainwater disposal system.[3] It has been estimated that a total of £650,000 will be needed to convert the building into a community centre.[4]
The chapel is constructed in Portland stone 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 pinnacles 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.[2]
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