St Mary's Church, Crewe

St Mary's Church in Crewe is an active Roman Catholic parish church on St Mary's Street, in the Cheshire town of Crewe. It belongs to the Diocese of Shrewsbury and is a Grade II listed building, recorded in the National Heritage List for England since 14 June 1984. For anyone interested in Victorian church architecture, it is one of the more interesting stops in a town better known for its railway heritage.

Who designed St Mary's Church?

The church was designed by Pugin & Pugin, the architectural practice that carried on the Gothic Revival tradition associated with the Pugin name. Construction took place between 1890 and 1891. The tower was finished at a later date, so the building as seen today is the result of more than one phase of work.

What does the building look like?

The church is built of red brick under a slate roof. The official list entry describes the style as "Free Gothic", while Wikipedia classes it as Gothic Revival with windows in the Decorated manner. Both labels point to the same idea: a Gothic vocabulary used with some freedom rather than a strict copy of a medieval model.

The plan is traditional. A tower stands at the south-west corner, and the main body consists of a five-bay nave with side aisles, ending in an apsidal chancel, meaning that the east end is rounded. The red brick gives the exterior a warm, solid look that fits the industrial town around it.

What is inside?

The interior is tall and wide. From the nave, the view leads towards the high altar and reredos, which are made of Caen stone, a pale limestone from Normandy long favoured for church fittings. As in many Catholic churches, the arrangement was changed after the Second Vatican Council: the altar was moved forward, the communion rails were removed and a screen was added in the narthex, the entrance area at the back of the church.

How old is the Catholic community in Crewe?

The church building dates from the 1890s, but the parish is older. Mass was being said in Crewe from around 1828, and the first resident priest arrived in 1844. A presbytery was added in 1851. The present church therefore represents the later growth of a Catholic community that had already been established for decades.

Practical information

• Address: St Mary's Street, Crewe, Cheshire.
• Use: an active parish church, so visits are best planned around services and with respect for worship.
• Status: Grade II listed.
• Location: the coordinates are roughly 53.098 N, 2.447 W.

Frequently asked questions

Is St Mary's Church in Crewe still used for worship? Yes. It is an active Roman Catholic parish church in the Diocese of Shrewsbury.

When was it built? Construction ran from 1890 to 1891, with the tower completed afterwards.

Who was the architect? Pugin & Pugin.

Is the church protected? Yes. It has been a Grade II listed building since 14 June 1984.

What is the church made of? Red brick with a slate roof; the high altar and reredos are in Caen stone.