St. Teresa of Lisieux, Taunton

Introduction

The church was built in 1958-59 and the presbytery slightly later, circa 1959-60, designed by EC Francis.

History

The church was designed by architect Eric Carwardine Francis of Taunton, his only known church design. The builders were Messrs Stansell & Son Ltd. The dedication was chosen in recognition of the 1955 twinning agreement between Taunton and Lisieux. In September 2009, around the time of its 50th anniversary, the relics of St Teresa of Lisieux were received in the church during their tour of Britain.

Architecture and furnishings

The church has a longitudinal plan with narrow circulation aisles to a wide nave, a narrower apsidal sanctuary, two square projections at the W end, a sacristy, and a S tower. The church is a mix of 'Georgian and Swedish Modern' (Pevsner). The interior has walls of exposed brickwork, except for the sanctuary and the ceilings which are plastered and painted white. The nave roof is supported by arched, transverse concrete trusses which rise from scrolled brackets with dentilled cornices.

The sanctuary furnishings are all of matching stone and probably date from a post-Vatican II reordering. The wooden sanctuary crucifix might be that by Estcourt Clack, described in accounts of the opening. The baptistery has an octagonal stone font on a stepped stone base with an elaborate, painted scrolled timber cover topped by a bird. The organ at the E end of the N aisle was built by George Osmond of Taunton. A brass hanging sanctuary lamp made for the church when it opened in 1959 is now in the Church of St Mary in Cricklade, Wiltshire.

Parish life

The parish has adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at regular times, with a team of adorers. The parish has a bookshop run by volunteers selling books, statues, cards and other religious items, open after Sunday Masses. Teams of volunteers clean the church each week on a rota basis. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion bring communion to the sick and housebound of the parish.

The parish has flower arrangers who operate on a rota basis. A team of volunteers visits patients in hospital and brings them communion. There is a small library in the entrance foyer of the Taunton Catholic Centre where books can be borrowed. A team of readers proclaims the Word of God from the Bible at Mass and other services.

Teams of people help to provide refreshments after Mass or at special events. A team of welcomers greets people as they arrive at and leave the church and answers questions. The parish has groups and activities supporting the most vulnerable in society and fundraising for different charities.