Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception — John Street Lower

Detached seven-bay double-height Catholic church, begun 1851; completed 1858; dated 1858, on a rectangular plan comprising seven-bay double-height nave opening into seven-bay single-storey lean-to side aisles; single-bay four-stage tower to entrance (west) front on a square plan supporting broach spire. Renovated, ----, with sanctuary reordered. Pitched slate roof; lean-to slate roofs (side aisles), roll moulded cut-granite ridge tiles, cut-granite coping to gables on trefoil-detailed gabled kneelers with Cross finial to apex (east), and cast-iron rainwater goods on cut-granite eaves retaining cast-iron downpipes. Tuck pointed coursed or snecked "Old Red Sandstone" walls on cut-granite chamfered cushion course on plinth with cut-granite flush quoins to corners; tuck pointed coursed or snecked "Old Red Sandstone" walls (tower) on benchmark-inscribed cut-granite chamfered cushion course on plinth with clasping stepped buttresses to corners having cut-granite "slated" coping. Paired pointed-arch window openings (clerestorey) between cast-iron cruciform tie plates, cut-granite mullions, and cut-granite block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals with hood mouldings on monolithic label stops framing fixed-pane fittings having lattice glazing bars. Pointed-arch window openings (side aisles) with cut-granite mullions, and cut-granite block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals with hood mouldings on monolithic label stops framing iron mesh storm panels over fixed-pane fittings having leaded stained glass panels. Pointed-arch window opening (east) with cut-granite mullions, and cut-granite block-and-start surround having chamfered reveals with hood moulding on monolithic label stops framing iron mesh storm panels over fixed-pane fittings having leaded stained glass panels. Pointed-arch door opening (tower) with cut-granite step threshold, and cut-granite block-and-start surround having rebated reveals with hood moulding on monolithic label stops framing timber boarded double doors. Pointed-arch window opening (second stage) with cut-granite mullions, and cut-granite block-and-start surround having chamfered reveals with hood moulding on monolithic label stops framing fixed-pane fittings having lattice glazing bars. Pair of lancet openings (third stage) with cut-granite block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals framing fixed-pane fittings having lattice glazing bars. Pair of pointed-arch openings (bell stage) between clock faces with cut-granite mullions, and cut-granite block-and-start surrounds having rebated reveals with hood mouldings on monolithic label stops framing louvered fittings. Interior including vestibule (west) retaining tessellated "quarry tile" floor, timber boarded wainscoting supporting chamfered timber dado rail, grouped wall-mounted Gothic-style ledgers, and timber boarded ceiling on chamfered timber beams on cut-granite beaded corbels; pointed-arch door opening into nave with glazed timber panelled double doors having overlight; full-height interior open into roof with arcaded choir gallery (west) on pointed-arch tripartite arcade supporting Gothic-style timber panelled pipe organ (1858), encaustic tiled central aisle between roll topped quatrefoil-detailed timber pews, pointed-arch arcades on cut-granite pillars, exposed pointed-arch braced collared timber roof construction on "Cavetto"-detailed thumbnail beaded corbels with timber boarded ceiling in carved timber frame on carved timber cornice, encaustic tiled cut-veined white marble stepped dais to sanctuary (east) reordered, ----, retaining arcaded communion railings with Gothic-style reredos below stained glass memorial "East Window" (----), encaustic tiled cut-veined white marble stepped daises to side altars with Gothic-style altars below stained glass memorial windows (----), timber boarded wainscoting to side aisles supporting chamfered timber dado rails, Gothic-style timber stations between stained glass memorial windows (1879), Gothic-style timber panelled confessional boxes, polished brass plates (ob. 1885; 1906), and exposed strutted timber roof construction on cut-granite beaded corbels with wind braced timber rafters to ceilings on carved timber cornices. Set in relandscaped grounds on a corner site.