DOUAI ABBEY

THE ABBEY CHURCH

The second part

of the church was completed in 1993. During the 1980s the temporary west wall had developed cracks and was thought to becoming dangerous, so the community decided to demolish it and complete the church.
Dr Michael Blee, architect of the second part of the church described the new section "The existing high roof pitch and slate covering was continued and then fragmented and faceted in a series of origami-like folds down to the aedicular scale of a traditional porch. From outside the sharp and angular forms of thick blue-green slate from Vermont USA, and the high clerestory window are dominant. They rest upon a base of two inch hand made bricks, coursing with those of the 1930s, and a boldly chequered plinth proportioned to accord with the original flint and stone but fabricated from precast units incoporating reconstructed stone and a dark green Kirkstone slate from Cumbria."

THE SPIRE
At the point where the new and old parts of the building meet, directly above the altar steps, there is a slender fleche which rises six metres above the roof. The fleche, or spire, is covered with thick 24 swg copper, which at first was bright, and is gradually weathering; eventually it will become green. On the top of the spire is a gold plated cross.

 

DEDICATION
The completed church was opened and consecrated by Bishop Crispian Hollis of Portsmouth on July 9, 1993.
 
AWARD
The church received an award from the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1994.

 

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Registered Charity No. 236962

revised 12/02/07

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