Church of Marychurch, Hatfield

Introduction

The Church of Marychurch in Hatfield, within the Archdiocese of Westminster, was built in 1970 and designed by architect George Mathers.

History

A Roman Catholic Church opened in Hatfield in 1930, seating about 120 people. George Mathers of Ware designed the new church, which George Davis and Sons built in 1970. Parish rooms attached to the north-east corner form the east side of a courtyard garden.

Architecture and furnishings

The church is built of brown brick with some concrete and stone, a slate roof and aluminium spire. The church has a multi-faceted circular plan with a small projection to the west. The baptistery contains a dramatic abstract scheme of coloured glass representing the Creation and the cosmos, with a cross at its centre. The ceiling is a two-part dome: a smaller conical shape set at the centre of an outer dome and capped by a bullseye window.

The altar is placed to the south on a forward projecting platform raised up by two shallow steps. Hexagonal entrance porches project to west and east from the north curve. A single-story flat-roofed wing attached to the north-east corner above the east entrance contains parish rooms and offices. The font is an angular and irregular abstract structure cast in Creetown granite aggregate and set on a circular stone base.

Glass panels contain images of the four evangelists in shades of red to yellow against a blue background. A welded steel screen with gates separates the church from the baptistery.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The parish runs an RCIA programme for adults who want to become Catholic or receive confirmation. The parish runs a Come and See group exploring key questions in the Catholic faith.

The parish has a repository shop selling articles of faith. The parish has a suggestion and comment box for parishioners.

The parish has a hall available for hire. The parish has a team of volunteers who clean the church.

Visiting

The parish recycles ink cartridges for CAFOD, with a collection point at the back of Marychurch. The parish has a St Pio Prayer Group. The parish has a Proclaim Our Lady of Fatima Family Rosary group. The parish has a youth ministry project approved and funded by the diocese.