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Leicester, New Parks Boulevard, St Aidan's Church
Church (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Leicester, New Parks Boulevard, St Aidan's Church
Classification Church (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 287590
Site Number SK50NE 1
NGR SK 5550 0550
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/287590
- Council Not Applicable
- Parish Not Applicable
- Former Region Not Applicable
- Former District Not Applicable
- Former County Not Applicable
Building Notes
In 1955 the Bishop of Leicester heard from the Bishop of Coventry about Sir Basil Spence's low-cost designs for three parish churches in Coventry city. This prompted him to write to Spence informing him that he had a 'modest amount of money' that could only be spent on building a church. As a result Basil Spence & Partners were commissioned by the Diocese of Leicester to build St Aidan's, which was consecrated in July 1959.
The scheme is made up of a simple church with cloister and bell tower that was intended to hold 350 people. It is largely made up of a simple steel framed block in-filled with exposed brick. The ceilings and the panels above the cloister windows are faced with timber. Spence's practice was also commissioned to design church furnishings, including pews and hymn boards.
Archive Details
The Sir Basil Spence Archive holds six manuscript files containing correspondence with the Bishop and the Diocese as well as tenders from contractors. The material also refers to St Hugh's Church on the Eyres Monsell estate in Leicester, designed by Basil Spence & Partners at the same time.
Included are letters written after the building was completed about the underfloor heating which was proving expensive. There is also a certificate from the West German government that commemorates the exhibition of the St Aidan's altar frontal at the 12th German Craftsmen Exhibition held in Munch in 1960.
Drawings include six preliminary designs by William Gordon for a ceramic mural. These show geometric patterns, ideas from which were included in a final piece depicting St Aidan which can be found in the entrance porch to the Church. Gordon's explanation of his mural design can also be found in the Archive.
Archive Summary
Along with the six manuscript files, the Sir Basil Spence Archive holds nine photographs, mainly of the interior. There are 37 drawings, including sketch perspectives of the altar and pulpit as well as designs for candleholders, the lectern and other furnishings.
St Aidan's Church is referred to within the project files for St Catherine's in Sheffield, Coventry Cathedral, Mortonhall Crematorium in Edinburgh and the three Coventry Churches, also all held in the Sir Basil Spence Archive.
This text was written as one of the outputs of the Sir Basil Spence Archive Project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, 2005-08.
