£200,000 mission is launched to save landmark 1960s church
A LANDMARK church in Woodthorpe is to undergo a £200,000 revamp to save it from "falling apart".
The Roman Catholic Church of the Good Shepherd, in Thackeray's Lane, was built between 1962 and 1964 to the design of Gerard Goalen, who was also involved in the design of Liverpool's Catholic Cathedral.
It was one of the first churches incorporating the liturgical changes brought about by the Second Vatican Council to be completed in Britain – and received Grade-II* listed status in 1997.
Father Philip Ziomek has now asked Gedling Borough Council for permission to renew the roof coverings and repair and replace damaged concrete.
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He said: "It is absolutely vital that we do everything we can to preserve this building, so we will be able to hand it down to future generations.
"It's a wonderful building with unique stained-glass windows."
City centre firm Allan Joyce Architects Ltd has drawn up the refurbishment plans.
Allan Joyce said: "This is a magnificent church.
"The problem is it has been built on concrete and reinforced with steel, which gets rusty.
"And when steel rusts, it expands and blows the concrete apart.
"The panels used to clad the building are already falling off and if we don't carry out these repairs, the building will continue to fall apart."
Church secretary Ernest Dale said only 5.5 per cent of listed buildings in the country were Grade-II*.
He added: "It is very rare for a 20th-century building to be Grade-II*. So, maintaining this church and its heritage – this is a serious matter.
"English Heritage also want to preserve it."
Mr Dale said the repairs would cost around £200,000.
English Heritage has agreed to contribute £119,000 towards this.
It has described the building as "a fine modern concrete church designed on Liturgical Movement principles with stained-glass windows by Patrick Reyntiens".
A statement by the organisation says: "The church is suffering severe concrete decay problems requiring urgent specialist attention.
"It is also suffering severe concrete decay problems requiring urgent specialist attention to avoid loss of its historic fabric."
English Heritage also said there was evidence that water was getting into the building and that the roof had to be replaced.
Other buildings in Gedling borough on the Heritage at Risk list include Newstead Abbey and adjoining boundary wall, in Newstead Park, as well as the Cannon Fort and adjoining dock, next to the lake in Newstead Park.
Comments
by smirc
Tuesday, February 19 2013, 9:49AM
“Why are English Heritage bailing out the Catholic Church; one of the most wealthy institutions in the world? More to the point why does their god not use his magic powers to conjure up the cash?”