‘Transforming the liturgy through architecture’

The work of Robert Maguire and Keith Murray

Robert Drake, Hon. Secretary, Twentieth Century Society

Context of building St Paul’s Bow Common

• Huge extent of destruction of churches in WWII bombing – 90 CofE churches destroyed

• Equivalent numbers or other denominations • De-population post-1945• Pressure to pay for new churches in areas of

population expansion (process started pre-war) • Meant in East End for 2-3 churches destroyed

only one new one built

Post-war Architectural context

• Liturgical movement coming from Germany • Ars sacra movement in France and pilgrimage

church of le Corbusier especially Ronchamp – also a place of architectural pilgrimage. Kirkby visited these churches

• New churches research group in UK- Peter Hammond wrote ‘Liturgy and Architecture’ St Paul’s architects Maguire and Murray were key players

• A charismatic priest wanting a new style of worship with centrally placed altar reflecting ‘the liturgical movement’ stemming from the Continent

• Opportunity for experimentation in services when in congregations in hall or temporary places with less Diocesan interference

• Meeting of minds when Kirkby met Keith Murray (who had designed Royal Foundation of St Catherine chapel ) and then Maguire

• Revolutionary and austere design

Why is St Paul’s so unique?

What is so special about St Paul’s interior

• First UK church to respond fully to liturgical reform agenda • Bringing congregation closer to and involving them in Eucharist – at

core of Kirkby’s approach • Influence of centrally planned Renaissance churches, idea of

harmony of man with nature • Also Thaxted church (Essex) – large areas of floor space and light

flooding in • Diminishing cubes with ancillary spaces; 2 chapels, parish room,

sacristy • Minimum of decoration: just red lettering and mosaics • A modern not a baroque baldacchino at the centre • A processional route clearly demarcated

What were they building elsewhere in the East End?

• A strong contrast to St Paul’s • Churches of J Antony Lewis in Bethnal Green St Matthew

and St Barnabas rebuilding of existing buildings; Arthur Bailey's ‘church within a church’ at St George in the East; Seely and Paget’s St Nicholas, Aberfeldy Estate

• Festival style fittings, often very fine stations and windows by leading designers

• Traditional layouts and none of the revolutionary ideas of Gresham Kirkby and Maguire at St Paul’s

• RC churches equally traditional – St Mary’s Poplar

Challenges in getting it built

• Distinguished but conservative architects on London DAC- Albert Richardson & Corfiato

• Cost cut from £50k to £40k Maguire could then cut out extraneous detail as ‘cost cutting’

• But possibly explains use of wire wool and other inexpensive materials

• Maguire used models – and model didn’t change much • New Churches Research Group founded 1957-

enormous impetus towards acceptance of churches like St Paul’s by hierarchy

Maguire and Murray’s other religious buildings

All later than St Paul’s:• St Matthew, Perry Beeches, Birmingham (1964)• All Saints, Crewe (1965)• West Malling Anglican Convent, Kent (1966)• St Joseph the Worker, Yeading (1969)• Ascension, Hulme, Manchester (1970)• St Andrew’s RC church, Tunbridge Wells (1975)• Lutheran Youth Hostel and Chapel, Kings CrossCarrying forward similar ideas: focus on liturgy with an austere, uncompromising aesthetic

Challenges for St Paul’s • Ecstatic reception from architectural commentators at the time which

continues • Quote from Nairn’s London 1966• High level of statutory protection for a modern church – II*• Winner of EASA/C20/NCT competition in 2013 for best post-1953 in UK• Problems with structure, lantern roof and wire wool • But access to grants to help with repair which most C20 churches do

not have (as unlisted)• Demographic challenges and need to build social capital in local

community • But it’s becoming the most famous post-war church in London –

architectural students will want to visit it

Role of Twentieth Century Society • National Amenity Societies play a vital role in protecting our

heritage particularly ecclesiastical• But not always popular with priests and PCCs • Our role in C20 Soc is conservation and we make no bones

about that • St Paul’s is an important monument in the history of the CofE

post-war and we need to preserve it • But adaptation is possible to adapt worship space provided

done in a sensitive (and often reversible) way • Can bring a national perspective – our church Gazetteer and

from our casework experience

www.C20society.org.ukhttp://www.c20society.org.uk/c20-society-churches-database/