Client
Roman Catholic
Diocese of East Anglia
Architect and Entrant
Anthony Rossi
The new church building lies within the heart of historic Walsingham, and replaces an earlier c1950 temporary structure. This building, by virtue of its form, design and materials, lacked presence and created an unfortunate gap within Friday Market Place.
By contrast, the new building with its imposing round tower and paved piazza has sought to reinstate a sense of place within the conservation area. It has done this successfully with its high quality design detailing and its natural vernacular materials.
Hence, handmade bricks have been laid in
Flemish bond, while carefully selected waterwashed cobbles have been used to echo the
East Anglian round towers of times past.
Elsewhere, artefacts from the earlier church have been reused and these sit comfortably alongside contemporary touches such as the leaded windows and the crisp modern interior. The building has also made good use of renewable technologies with ground probes providing heat and photo voltaic cells supplying power.
Overall: The judges were particularly impressed by the way the new church has taken traditional forms and materials and repackaged them in a fresh and innovative way to create a locally distinctive building.
D I S T R I C T C O U N C I L