St Martin and St Ninian Catholic Church

Heritage listing

Category C Date Added 23/02/2009 Local Authority Dumfries And Galloway Planning Authority Dumfries And Galloway Burgh Whithorn NGR NX 44547 40125 Coordinates 244547, 540125 — Designed H S Goodhart-Rendel, 1955-8, constructed 1959-60. Symmetrical, cruciform church with distinctive double-bellcote to gable and low rubble quadrant forecourt at street elevation (W) and with external altar and Hew Lorimer crucifix to rear (E). Harled with raised cement margins. Base course, buttresses. Large triangular and pointed-segmental-arched window openings with broad timber astragals. Some small circular window openings. FURTHER DESCRIPTION: STREET ELEVATION (W): central advanced flat-roofed porch with part-glazed timber swing doors set in sandstone architrave. Wide gable behind with double-bellcote at apex. EAST ELEVATION: taller section to right with central, stone, carved Hew Lorimer crucifix mounted to wall, with slated canopy above and timber belfry with louvred openings to ridge above. Raised platform to ground with stone altar. Flat-roofed sacristy to left. Predominantly small fixed windows; some metal casement windows. Grey slates. INTERIOR: (seen 2008). White-painted walls. 2 flat-roofed side chapels with corner pillars; triangular roof shape over sanctuary. Painted and stencilled lady chapel in blue and gold. Corner lines rising to create polygonal roof shape. High level lighting to sanctuary. Timber pews. Slatted timber doors. Later marble altar and lectern. QUADRANT WALLS: to street (W). Coped rubble quadrant walls with symmetrical gate openings. — Place of Worship in use as such. This church is the only known work in Scotland by the renowned English architect H S Goodhart-Rendel. Situated at the heart of the village of Whithorn and set back slightly from the road, the cur

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.