Saint Fintan's Catholic Church — Chapel Street

Detached seven-bay double-height Catholic church, built 1869-71; dedicated 1872, on a rectangular plan comprising six-bay double-height nave opening into five-bay single-storey lean-to side aisles centred on single-bay double-height apse (west) on a half-octagonal plan; single-bay two-stage tower to entrance (east) front on a square plan supporting single-bay three-stage turret on an octagonal plan. Renovated, 1923-4, with sanctuary "improved". Renovated, 1968-70, with sanctuary reordered. Undergoing "restoration", 2009. Pitched slate roof; lean-to slate roofs (side aisles), clay ridge tiles, lichen-spotted cut-granite coping to gables on roll moulded gabled "Cavetto" kneelers, and replacement uPVC rainwater goods on timber eaves boards on cut-granite "Cavetto" cornice. Part repointed cut-granite banded snecked Knockarone stone walls on cut-granite chamfered cushion course on plinth with cut-granite flush quoins to corners; part repointed cut-granite banded snecked Knockarone stone walls (tower) on cut-granite chamfered cushion course on plinth with diagonal buttresses to corners having cut-granite "slated" coping. Pointed segmental-headed window openings (clerestorey) with cut-granite roundel tracery, and cut-granite surrounds having chamfered reveals framing fixed-pane fittings having stained glass margins centred on leaded stained glass panels. Lancet window openings (side aisles) with cut-granite block-and-start surrounds having moulded reveals framing storm glazing over fixed-pane fittings having stained glass margins centred on leaded stained glass roundels. Pointed segmental-headed lancet window openings to apse (west) with cut-granite surrounds having chamfered reveals framing storm glazing over fixed-pane fittings having leaded stained glass panels. Lancet window openings to gable to entrance (east) front with cut-granite block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals framing storm glazing over fixed-pane fittings having stained glass margins centred on leaded stained glass panels. Pointed-arch door opening with cut-granite step threshold, and cut-granite block-and-start surround having chamfered reveals with hood moulding over on monolithic label stops framing timber boarded double doors. Trefoil-headed lancet window opening (third stage) with cut-granite block-and-start surround having chamfered reveals framing storm glazing over fixed-pane fitting having lattice glazing bars. Lancet openings (bell stage) with cut-granite "Cyma Recta" or "Cyma Reversa" sill course, and cut-granite surrounds having chamfered reveals framing louvered fittings. Interior including vestibule (east); square-headed door opening into nave with replacement glazed timber panelled double doors having overlight; full-height interior open into roof with choir gallery (east) supporting Gothic-style timber panelled pipe organ, encaustic tiled central aisle (1925) between Maltese Cross-detailed timber pews, pointed-arch arcades on cut-granite pillars, exposed pointed-arch braced collared timber roof construction on cut-granite beaded "Cavetto" corbels with wind braced ceiling in carved timber frame on carved timber cornice, carpeted stepped dais to sanctuary (west) reordered, 1968-70, with pointed-arch chancel arch framing Gothic-style panelled altar below stained glass memorial windows (----) in mosaic tiled surrounds (1923-4), pointed-arches to side altars framing cloaked altars below stained glass windows in mosaic tiled surrounds, paired Gothic-style timber stations to side aisles between stained glass memorial windows (1934), silver plated wall monument (ob. 1849) with Gothic-style wall monument (ob. 1896), and exposed rafters to ceiling. Set in landscaped grounds on a slightly elevated site approached by flight of eight cut-granite steps.