A death and a listing
Tuesday 17 Oct 2023 · 1:15
» David John died on 26 September at the age of 96. He was a liturgical artist who worked on many Catholic churches in different parts of the country. He designed items for the abbey church at Douai (including the main crucifix, pictured below), St Mary's Woolhampton, and for the other churches in the Woolhampton parish (Pangbourne, Theale, and Burghfield). On the national scale his major work was the decorative scheme for St Luke's, Pinner.
» Gerard Goalen (1918-1999) was an old pupil of Douai School. He worked in the architectural firm led by Sir Frederick Gibberd, who was responsible for the town planning of Harlow. Gibberd entrusted him with the design of the Catholic church in the new town, Our Lady of Fatima. The church was recently listed by Historic England as Grade II*. The church is notable for its use of concrete and for its impressive internal spaciousness. The extensive stained glass was designed by Dom Charles Norris of Buckfast Abbey. Two other churches by Goalen have also been listed as Grade II: St Thomas More, Swiss Cottage and St Gregory the Great, South Ruislip.