Building record MDR13488 - St Mary's Roman Catholic Chapel, Spencer Street, Chesterfield

The Roman Catholic Church of St Mary of the Annunciation was built in 1854 by architect Joseph Harsom. The tall tower-like west end was added in 1874 with a hipped slate roof and corner turret with short spire above a band of Gothic windows. It is built from coursed stone rubble with quoins and string courses. Interior is of imusiial design with aisles curving into the centre, trefoil clerestory windows and narrow chancel. (1) According to White's Directory, the Catholic Chapel, Spencer street, built in 1854, is a neat Gothic building, which will afford accommodation to about 1,400 persons. A house for the priest, and schools are to be added as soon as sufficient funds are raised. (2) According to Bulmer's Directory, the Catholic Church, dedicated to St. Mary of the Annunciation, is a substantial stone edifice in the Gothic style, and considerably enlarged about 20 years ago (c. 1875), at a cost of £5,000... Adjoining the church is the presbytery, erected in 1866. (3) According to Kelly's Directory, the Catholic church of the Annunciation, in Spencer Street, erected during the period 1854-74, is a spacious edifice of stone in the Early Gothic style, from designs by Mr. Joseph Hansom, architect, London, consisting of chancel, lady chapel, clerestoried nave, aisles, baptistery and the lower stage of a western tower; the stained east window was inserted in 1884, by W. P. Arkwright esq. as a memorial of his marriage, and there is another, placed in 1892, to Mrs. Lucas, of Hasland Hall: the pulpit, of Bath stone and alabaster, was erected in 1887: there is also a marble statue of the Sacred Heart, by Meyer, of Munich: near the centre of the church is a shrine, erected to the memory of Father de Wurtzburg, cousin of the Duke of Norfolk, who served the mission for 25 years: the shrine consists of a Carrara marble statue of the Virgin, with pedestal and steps of marble: there are 550 sittings. (4)