St Agatha's, Landport

St Agatha's, Landport is a parish church in the Landport district of Portsmouth, built between 1893 and 1895 and listed Grade II*. It is one of the most unusual churches on England's south coast: a red-brick basilica in the early Christian style, standing today beside a modern shopping street.

Where is St Agatha's?

The church sits on Marketway, next to the Cascades Shopping Centre, in the heart of Landport (roughly 50.8023 N, 1.0922 W). The contrast is striking: a red-brick basilica rising among contemporary city buildings, only a few steps from the shops.

Who built it, and why?

The church grew out of the work of Robert Dolling, an Irish Anglo-Catholic priest active in this part of Portsmouth. Residents of Old Portsmouth also contributed donations towards the new building. The architect was Joseph Henry Ball of Southsea, who designed a red-brick church echoing early Christian basilicas, a bold choice for English church building of the period.

It opened on 27 October 1895. The ritual practised there led to a dispute with the Bishop of Winchester, Randall Davidson, who refused to license Dolling to officiate at the new church, partly because of his plan to link a third altar with masses for the dead.

What can you see inside?

The highlight of the interior is the mural in the nave apse, made around 1901 in sgraffito, a technique of incised plaster. It is the work of Heywood Sumner, a friend and follower of William Morris and part of the Arts and Crafts movement. Together with the architecture itself, it helps explain the building's high listed status.

What happened later?

The church was damaged in the bombing of 1940. In 1964 the Lady Chapel was demolished to allow a road to be widened. The building was later taken over by the Traditional Anglican Communion.

Which church does it belong to today?

It was built for the Church of England. Today it is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church through the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, a structure for former Anglicans who join Rome while keeping elements of their liturgical tradition.

Frequently asked questions

Is St Agatha's a listed building? Yes. It is Grade II* listed, a category for particularly important buildings of national interest.

When was it built? Between 1893 and 1895, with the opening on 27 October 1895.

Who designed it? According to available sources, the architect was Joseph Henry Ball of Southsea.

Who painted the apse mural? Heywood Sumner, around 1901, in sgraffito.

How do I find it? It stands on Marketway beside the Cascades Shopping Centre in Landport, so it is easy to combine with a trip into the city centre.

Which church is it part of now? It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church via the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham.

Who is it for?

Fans of Victorian architecture, the history of the Church in England and Arts and Crafts art. For visitors to Portsmouth it is a rare chance to see a red-brick basilica in the middle of the urban bustle, along with one of Heywood Sumner's notable works on the south coast.