Carville Road, Church of St. Columba

Built in 1957 to replace the church of Our Lady and St Aidan of 1885 which stood in Willington Quay. This is a very good example of a modern church, designed by local architect Stienlet. The present church was built in 1957 replacing the buildings of 1885 and 1904. A bold and impressive design of the 1950s, fusing Modern Perpendicular Gothic, Scandinavian and Art Deco elements. It is the best example in the diocese of the work of the ‘middle generation’ of the Stienlet architectural dynasty. The foundation stone of the present church was laid by the parish priest, Fr Timothy O’Brien in February 1957, and the church was opened by Bishop Cunningham on 7 October 1957. The new church was dedicated to Our Lady and St Columba. It was a large structure, seating 520. The church was consecrated on 13 June 1964. Post-Vatican II reordering of 1968 was carried out by Vincente Stienlet (the younger). The high altar, pulpit and the central section of the communion rails were removed; a new forward altar was introduced and the tabernacle placed against the east wall on a plinth incorporating parts from the original high altar. A further reordering by Vincente Stienlet in 1990 involved the creations of a new baptistery in a marble-railed enclosure on the south side of the sanctuary (with re-used communion rails), with new font and lectern. The etched design on the glass bowl of the front was by Morag Gordon. A new pipe organ by Nigel Church was installed (Vincente Stienlet pers. com.) LISTED GRADE II