The Good Shepherd, Woodthorpe

Introduction

The Good Shepherd in Woodthorpe, in the Diocese of Nottingham, was built in 1962-64 to designs by Gerard Goalen. The church is a fine example of a church designed on Liturgical Movement principles, with the altar placed to one side of a centralised plan form, an arrangement advanced for its time in England.

History

The parish was founded in 1929, with the foundation stone of the first church laid by Bishop Dunn on 21 March 1929. The first recorded baptism was on 1 December 1929 and Father Patrick Joseph Power was the first parish priest. The present church was opened on 23 July 1964, designed by Gerard Goalen, and the design won an award from the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1966. The parish maintains strong links with its parish schools and runs yearly programmes for First Holy Communion and Confirmation.

Architecture and furnishings

The main space is an elongated hexagon in plan, with the altar placed in one of the points in the centre of the broadside, opposite the main entrance. A rectangular enclosure around the hexagon accommodates a lady chapel, baptistry, choir, vestries and entrance foyer, and provides a link with the earlier presbytery. Internally, four slender piers rise to support a delicate groin vault of smooth concrete which descends to meet the heads of the piers in curved facets. The church has stained glass by Patrick Reyntiens.

The upper walls are filled with Reyntiens' dalle-de-verre stained glass in purples, mauves, greens and blues, and the panels become broader and richer in the three arched lights behind the altar. The church was recognised by English Heritage with the award of a Grade II* listing on 24 September 1998. The Millennium bell was cast on 4 February 1999.

The church is built of concrete and brick with a roof not visible. Above the entrance rise tall, narrow, vertical concrete panels with inset dalle-de-verre stained glass, meeting segmental-headed arches described by the concrete fascia panels. A slender pointed concrete tower rises to the left out of the entrance front, widening into a square bell chamber with horizontal grilles. A low aisle runs around five sides of the hexagon.

The altar is of concrete and the timber altar rails carry the segmental arch motif. The organ has two manuals and pedal with a detached console and electric action. The organ is maintained by Henry Groves and Sons.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Children's liturgy has sessions for three age groups: Pre-school, Infants for school years 1-3, and Juniors for children who have celebrated First Holy Communion. The parish offers a baptism preparation programme of 3 sessions, offered throughout the year.

The parish offers a continuous RCIA programme for adults, normally leading to initiation at the Easter vigil. The church is available for funerals of Catholics on days and times agreed with the family and the Parish Priest. The parish has a weekly rota to hear confessions during advertised hours, ordinarily on Friday and Saturday.