Convent of the Divine Providence — Lower Main Street

Detached six-bay double-height Catholic chapel, designed 1922; built 1923-5; dated 1925, on a cruciform plan originally attached comprising four-bay double-height nave opening into single-bay (single-bay deep) double-height lower transepts centred on single-bay double-height chancel to crossing (north). Pitched slate roof on a cruciform plan with clay ridge tiles, concrete coping to gables with trefoil-detailed cut-limestone Celtic Cross finials to apexes, and cast-iron rainwater goods on concrete box eaves retaining embossed cast-iron hoppers and downpipes. Pebbledashed roughcast walls with pebbledashed roughcast clasping stepped buttresses to corners having concrete coping. Pointed-arch window openings with concrete mullions, and concrete block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals framing storm glazing over fixed-pane fittings having stained glass margins centred on lattice glazing bars. Pointed-arch window openings (transepts) with concrete interlocking Y-mullions, and concrete block-and-start surrounds having chamfered reveals framing storm glazing over fixed-pane fittings having stained glass margins centred on lattice glazing bars. Pointed-arch window opening (north) with concrete mullions, and concrete block-and-start surround having chamfered reveals framing storm glazing over fixed-pane fittings having stained glass margins centred on leaded stained glass panels. Hexafoil "Rose Window" to entrance (south) front with concrete surround framing storm glazing over fixed-pane fitting having stained glass margins centred on leaded stained glass panel. Interior including vestibule (south); shallow Tudor-headed door openings into nave centred on camber-headed door opening with glazed timber panelled double doors; full-height interior with wrought iron-detailed arcaded choir gallery (south) below stained glass "Rose Window" (----), carpeted central aisle between timber pews, timber panelled wainscoting supporting carved timber dado rail, stations below stained glass windows (1924), pointed-arch arcades on limestone ashlar octagonal pillars with hood mouldings on label stops, mosaic tiled cut-veined white marble stepped dais to sanctuary to crossing (north) with arcaded communion railing centred on stepped "predella" supporting cut-veined white marble panelled altar below stained glass "North Window" (1924), pointed arches to side altars framing cut-veined white marble panelled altars below stained glass windows (1924), and part exposed timber roof construction on cut-limestone corbels with barrel vaulted ceiling on carved timber cornice. Set in shared grounds with rendered, ruled and lined boundary wall to perimeter having "saddleback" coping supporting spear head-detailed wrought iron railings.