St Mary and St Modwen

Introduction

St Mary and St Modwen in Burton on Trent was built in 1878-9 by J Knight Morley to designs of John Young of London, in a Decorated Gothic style. The church's tower, by local architect Mr Mills, was completed in 1897.

History

The builders were Messrs Lowe and Sons. The tower base was built as part of the original design and was completed, together with a spire, in 1897. The original 1852 school-chapel building was retained until 1910 when it was replaced by a new school on the north side of the church. The roofs, originally tiled, were replaced with slates after 1923.

In 1975 the interior was re-ordered to comply with the provisions of the Second Vatican Council. In 2000 the space below the west gallery was glazed to form a narthex.

Architecture and furnishings

The church has an aisled nave of five bays, aisles, a sanctuary with north (added in 1960) and south sacristies, and a north-west tower. The west façade has a large round traceried window in the gable, over two canopied niches containing statues of St Mary and St Modwen. The large pointed west doorway was inserted in 1962, replacing two windows. The flat-roofed north sacristy was added in 1960.

The nave is in the early Gothic style of c1300, with a large west organ gallery (glazed below for a narthex). The C20 organ is by W Hawkins and Son of Walsall Wood. The arcade arches rise from round-moulded capitals and polished granite columns, said to be from Connemara, Ireland but more likely from Aberdeen, Scotland. The carved timber rood beam with painted figures is a First World War memorial.

The sanctuary walls with figures of saints and martyrs and the scene of the Assumption over the chancel arch were painted by Jeffries Hopkins in 1889. The stencilled dado is of 1879. The two-light windows were filled with glass in 1902 by Mayer of Munich.

The Keralite community has Holy Mass celebrated in the Syro-Malabar rite once every month by a chaplain from Birmingham. The church is opened daily for visitors to spend time in prayer.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The parish offers sacramental preparation programmes for children for Baptism, Reconciliation, Holy Communion and Confirmation. Children not at a Catholic school are invited to a Saturday class for First Holy Communion preparation, beginning in the year they turn seven. Children not at a Catholic school are invited to a Saturday class for Reconciliation preparation, and make their confession at a special penance service one Saturday morning. Parents wishing to baptise a baby or young child contact one of the priests, who guides them through preparation. The parish runs RCIA classes, advertised in newsletters, for those preparing to become Catholic.