Church of Our Lady and Saint Vincent

This RIBA East Award-winning church and parish centre is the first new-build ‘antiphonal’ RC church in England. The church seats 300 but no member of the congregation is more than 5 rows away from the altar. Built as a replacement church, regular attendance in the parish increased by over 50% soon after opening and has remained at that level. Designed with layers of meaning and symbolism, the shape refers variously to the Icthys, a fishing boat and the ark. Huge golden doors of wheat open to reveal the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.

The walls are built using hydraulic lime mortar and the main roof of the church is slate. We designed the wheelchair accessible font, the altar, the pews and lectern and worked in close liaison with the artists Stephen Foster and Alexandra le Rossignol.

Photography by Timothy Soar