Lillington - Our Lady
The Catholic church of Our Lady in Lillington is quite simply one of the most stunning modern churches I've ever seen, a little known modernist gem in the heart of Warwickshire that really deserves wider recognition. It is full of the spirit of post-war optimism one sees at Coventry and Liverpool's new cathedrals, where uncompromisingly modern architecture and art were fused together in an inseparable whole, the buildings alone unimaginable without their vast walls of beautiful coloured glass; that is very much the spirit of this church, it's walls of glowing glass define it.
Lillington today is very much a suburb of Leamington Spa and has quite a modern feel to it. I knew very little of this church for years, having seen Lillington's ancient Anglican church in passing so many times, but never penetrating into the new centre further west, where I often caught a glimpse of the thin copper spire over the distant rooftops and wondered what was underneath. I never imagined it was a building of much interest.
The main significance of Lillington to me was as the place where my paternal grandfather died, of sudden heart failure whilst reaching for a book in Lillington's Library. I never met him, this being a few years before I arrived on the scene, but wanted to feel that connection by seeing the library building for myself. It stands next door to this church, so Our Lady's would have been one of the very last sights he ever saw before passing away.
Learning a little more of this building three tantalisingly brief references to it's rich glazing by the Buckfast monks had made me eager to visit, but alas I'd found it locked on my first call, so I timed my next visit carefully to coincide with a morning mass, which fitted in neatly before my appointment to view the ruins of neighbouring Radford Semele church later that morning. The parish priest came to unlock a little earlier and kindly let me in for a look around, I was quite overwhelmed by what I saw.
The main significance of Lillington to me was as the place where my paternal grandfather died, of sudden heart failure whilst reaching for a book in Lillington's Library. I never met him, this being a few years before I arrived on the scene, but wanted to feel that connection by seeing the library building for myself. It stands next door to this church, so Our Lady's would have been one of the very last sights he ever saw before passing away.
Learning a little more of this building three tantalisingly brief references to it's rich glazing by the Buckfast monks had made me eager to visit, but alas I'd found it locked on my first call, so I timed my next visit carefully to coincide with a morning mass, which fitted in neatly before my appointment to view the ruins of neighbouring Radford Semele church later that morning. The parish priest came to unlock a little earlier and kindly let me in for a look around, I was quite overwhelmed by what I saw.
The building, designed by Henry Fedeski and opened in 1963, follows the traditional cruciform plan but with a centrally placed altar at the crossing. The nave and transepts are given over entirely to seating, with the altar viewed from three directions, whilst the liturgically eastern limb, the chancel is a curiously unfurnished empty space that looks rather redundant, as if the altar should really be pushed back into it.
However the most outstanding element here is the sheer abundance of (mostly) abstract stained glass, bathing the interior in a magical kaleidoscopic light. The entire clerestorey of all four arms of the building consists of this rich abstract glazing. A round window enlivens the entrance facade (liturgically west but the church is actually orientated north to south) whilst the transepts are dominated by huge images of Mary and the Archangel Gabriel respectively (the only figurative elements in the glazing). Oddly the only wall without any form of glazing is also the focal point of the interior, the 'east' wall is plain, the same white plaster finish as the aisles below, and adorned instead by a huge Alpha & Omega beneath a Labarum ('chi rho', the first letters of Christ's name in Greek) symbol.
However the most outstanding element here is the sheer abundance of (mostly) abstract stained glass, bathing the interior in a magical kaleidoscopic light. The entire clerestorey of all four arms of the building consists of this rich abstract glazing. A round window enlivens the entrance facade (liturgically west but the church is actually orientated north to south) whilst the transepts are dominated by huge images of Mary and the Archangel Gabriel respectively (the only figurative elements in the glazing). Oddly the only wall without any form of glazing is also the focal point of the interior, the 'east' wall is plain, the same white plaster finish as the aisles below, and adorned instead by a huge Alpha & Omega beneath a Labarum ('chi rho', the first letters of Christ's name in Greek) symbol.
The glass is the work of Dom Charles Norris, heading a team of fellow monks who employed the dalle de verre (slab of glass) technique, wherein thick chunks of coloured glass are set in a concrete matrix. Norris is best known for his work at Buckfast Abbey, where he was based, and sources I had read prior to my visit led me to believe these windows were made at the same Buckfast studio, though the parish priest here told me the windows were actually made at Prinknash Abbey instead.
Wherever they were made they form one of the finest sets of dalle de verre glazing in the country, and also something of a rarity since the medium was relatively shortlived, being popular mainly in the 1960s and 70s before virtually dying out due to changes of fashion and technical problems inherant in the process. Some schemes, particularly where resin was used instead of concrete, have not aged well and a few have even been removed (such as the recent tragic loss at English Martyrs, Hillmorton) but happily the windows at Our Lady's remain in sound condition and long may they stay so.
Wherever they were made they form one of the finest sets of dalle de verre glazing in the country, and also something of a rarity since the medium was relatively shortlived, being popular mainly in the 1960s and 70s before virtually dying out due to changes of fashion and technical problems inherant in the process. Some schemes, particularly where resin was used instead of concrete, have not aged well and a few have even been removed (such as the recent tragic loss at English Martyrs, Hillmorton) but happily the windows at Our Lady's remain in sound condition and long may they stay so.
There are yet further examples of this rich glazing in three of the side chapels and annexes at ground level; the Lady Chapel (used as a day chapel for weekday morning masses) is in the liturgical south east corner and has an abstract composition suggesting elements of Creation along one side. The room is otherwise lit by a skylight and has a contemporary wooden sculpture of the Madonna & Child in a niche.
There is also a small, slightly gloomy chapel west of the transept with a composition based on the symbols of the Passion in square panels. Finally there is the baptistry (not used this way anymore as it was partially filled with clutter, and I didn't see a font), a cylindrical chapel with glazed walls filled with abstract swathes of colour incorporating the words 'Spiritus Sanctus et Aqua'.
There is also a small, slightly gloomy chapel west of the transept with a composition based on the symbols of the Passion in square panels. Finally there is the baptistry (not used this way anymore as it was partially filled with clutter, and I didn't see a font), a cylindrical chapel with glazed walls filled with abstract swathes of colour incorporating the words 'Spiritus Sanctus et Aqua'.
This is a magnificent modern church which clearly deserves to be better known, as there can be few such significant examples of dalle de verre glass in the country, making a visit to this church an unforgettable experience.
The church is unfortunately normally locked outside of services, but is well worth the effort of making an appointment to visit (the parish priest lives nearby), or maybe coinciding a visit close to mass times.
Aidan McRae Thomson 2012
The church is unfortunately normally locked outside of services, but is well worth the effort of making an appointment to visit (the parish priest lives nearby), or maybe coinciding a visit close to mass times.
Aidan McRae Thomson 2012