Church

St Catherine of Siena, Sheffield

St Catherine of Siena, Sheffield

St Catherine of Siena is a Grade II parish church on Richmond Road, Sheffield, in the Diocese of Sheffield, a sculptural modern church by Basil Spence built to serve the Woodthorpe and Richmond estates.

Location
Sheffield, Yorkshire
Country
England
County
Yorkshire
City / town
Sheffield
Address
Richmond Road, Sheffield, Yorkshire, S13 8EJ
Postcode
S13 8EJ
Built
1958–62
Architect
Basil Spence
Denomination
Church of England
Dedication
Catherine
Diocese
Sheffield
Parish
Richmond Road St Catherine of Siena
Grade
II
Style
Mid twentieth-century sculptural modern
Materials
Brown brick; slate cladding to the entrance block of the parish hall
Grid reference
SK 395 851
Opening hours
Open Monday to Friday 10am to 2pm. Sunday Parish Mass 10am. See parish notices for daily mass times, other services and events.
Access
Level access throughout. Accessible toilets in church

Overview

Historic England lists a church of 1958–62 by Basil Spence, of brown brick, with slate cladding to the entrance block of the parish hall. The plan is a rectangular nave sweeping into a semicircular apsed sanctuary. The entrance is at the liturgical south-west; a tower linked at the liturgical south-east comprises two convex slabs forming a sacristy at ground level, linked by concrete beams above, with a patinated bronze sculptural group of the crucified Christ on the east side. Listing NGR is SK 39527 85115.

The interior is aisleless, with vertical slit windows and a roof sloping up toward the chancel on laminated timber beams, separated from the walls by a narrow glazed strip. Light is thrown onto the east wall by a concealed window. The sanctuary is raised; the altar, originally against the east wall, has been brought forward. Fittings include a polished fossil limestone font, a large timber cross of overlapping beams, laminated timber pews and an organ above the sacristy entrance. The National Churches Trust notes a bronze by Ronald Pope of St Catherine at the foot of the cross on the bell tower. The listing describes a strongly sculptural design with a powerful presence.

Further Information