Church of the Sacred Heart on Queens Avenue, Tunstall

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The Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart on Queens Avenue, Tunstall, with its stunning copper domed roofs visible for miles around, is one of North Staffordshire’s major architectural statements, and was the vision of one man – Father P. J. Ryan.

In 1925 Father Ryan appointed a prominent architect – J. S. Brocklesby – and gave him a challenging brief: to trump the local Protestants and build the biggest, most imposing, and beautiful church in the area.
Brocklesby took up the challenge, but the trouble was, Father Ryan had absolutely no intention of implementing his architect’s plans. In fact he dragged Brocklesby all over Europe to draw inspiration from continental places of worship, and his ideas grew and grew.

The Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart, Tunstall

Father Ryan proved to be an infuriating client for Brocklesby, so much so that the exasperated architect never completed the commission: Father Ryan himself was responsible for the end product, and with the help of local labour, the church opened its doors to worshipers in 1930. It was a remarkable achievement, particularly given that this was the time of the Depression.

Father Ryan was held in great esteem throughout North Staffordshire, and legend has it that when he died in 1951, his funeral procession was five miles long and brought the area to a stand still: an amazing show of respect and affection.

The most amazing thing about Father Ryan though is his church: a true architectural statement, and his real legacy. The Church of the Sacred Heart is one of the first buildings in Stoke-on-Trent that I took an interest in, and sight of it always recalls summer days spent in the town’s park on the opposite side of the road. It is awe inspiring.

It is a real shame that modern day architects in the area do not take a trawl around North Staffordshire to draw inspiration from the area’s fine buildings, and that much new design throughout North Staffordshire struggles to rise above mediocrity. This is a particular problem with new ecclesiastic architecture. So many times you see fine old churches and chapels left to deteriorate, or sold off to corporate vandals for new, often inappropriate uses, while the congregation moves into a new building. And new churches and chapels are so often greatly disappointing: mediocre low rise, single storey brick and tile boxes, greatly lacking the art that is inherent in the edifices that they replace. The reason for that is perhaps a lack of characters like Father Ryan, characters with vision and drive, and a passion for what they believe in. People that refuse to accept second best. It could be argued that the state of historic religious buildings and modern church design are symbols of the decline of the church.

David Proudlove 28 April 2007