Church of St Hilda (RC), Bagdale, Whitby

St. Hilda's Roman Catholic Church, Whitby, has been opened. The style is Early Pointed. It consists of nave and aisles, but has no chancel, on account of the limited space at the disposal of the architects. The length is 101 feet, width 54 feet, height to ceiling 54 feet. The architects were Messrs Hadfield and Son, of Sheffield. The font and altar were executed by Mr. Earp, of London, from the designs of the architects. The contractors were: Masonry, J. Scales; carpentry, J White; and plastering, Blakely, all of Whitby. [Building News 13 December 1867 page 871] A two- light memorial window has been erected in St. Hilda's Roman Catholic Church, Whitby. It is by Wailes, of Newcastle, and represents the Resurrection, and Our Lord Blessing Little Children. [Building News 13 December 1867 page 873].

WHITBY - St. Hilda's Church, Whitby, has lately been completed, and solemnly blessed by the R. C. Bishop of Beverley. It has been upwards of two years in course of erection. The style of architecture adopted is severe Early Pointed, founded on a careful study from the best work, in the time-worn ruins of the old abbey, so familiar to all lovers of pure Early Pointed work. The plan has been determined by the peculiar nature of the site, which has a rapid fall along the line of Brunswick-street, to the corner of Bagdale. It has nave and aisles, the southern being considerably wider, and having cross arches to carry the roof. The total internal length is 101 feet; width from wall to wall, 54 feet; height from floor to point of barrel vault of nave ceiling, 54 feet. There is a porch on the Brunswick-street side, and a spacious sacristy, forming the connexion with the old presbytery. The necessity of using carefully the limited quantity of ground at the architects' disposal has rendered necessary the omission of a chancel arch: a distinction, however, is made, the roof over chancel being panelled and boarded. The nave arcade has columns 18 feet from centre to centre, and 27 feet in height, the walls being of great thickness. The aisle windows are 14 feet from the church floor, and give abundant light throughout. There is no clearstory; one roof of braced end coupled curved rafters, spanning nave, and aisles. The interior is far from complete. The altar is of Caen stone and alabaster, with pillars of serpentine, and has a rich enamelled tabernacle door, of repoussé brass work, by Barkentin, of Regent-street. The font is of stone, carved with shafts of alabaster and serpentine, and is the gift of the architects. As to the exterior, we may note thot the principal entrance is in Bagdale, a flight of sixteen steps, 18 feet wide, the doorway, which is deeply recessed, and has nook shafts of red granite, three on each jamb, with a niche over, and statue of patron saint. The great doors are of English oak, 12 feet high, with carved meeting post. Above is an arcade of lancets, and in the gable a large wheel window. The baptistery terminates the north aisle, and at the opposite corner the octagonal belfry or campanile, to a height of 148 ft. The cross and vane of lead and wrought iron, are 12 feet high. The front to Brunswick-street has a series of gables which give the opportunity of well lighting the church. The roofs are covered with small strong Welsh slate, arranged in simple patterns, and crested with a bold ridging of red tile. The architects were Messrs. M. E. Hadfield & Son, of Sheffield. The font and altar have been executed by Mr Earp, of London. The contractors were, for the masonry, J. Scales; carpentry, J. White; plumbing and glazing, Brown; plastering Blakely; slating, painting, Redman, all of Whitby. A memorial window has been placed in the church. It is by Messrs Wailes, of Newcastle, and has been placed in the church by the families of Lawson and Turnbull as a memorial. In one of the lights is the Resurrection, and in the second, our Lord blessing little Children. [Builder 4 January 1868 page 18]

Reference    Building News 13 December 1867 page 871 and 873
Reference    Builder 4 January 1868 page 18