In August 2025, we were lucky enough to be shown inside the stunning Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church in Harlow and allowed to shoot it, with many thanks to Kathy and the Parish for several enjoyable visits. This incredible modernist building was designed between 1953-4 and built from 1958-1960 to serve the New Town of Harlow.
After the Second World War, Britain desperately needed to rebuilt, allowing experimental modernist architecture from the continent to be given creedence. Harlow was one of the earliest developing new towns and still retains its character and several impressive buildings such as this.
Our Lady of Fatima was designed by Gerard Goalen and drew upon pre-WWII continental modernist churches; notably Église Notre-Dame du Raincy (1922-23) in France and Antoniuskirche, Basel (1925-27) in Switzerland which made use of large reinforced concrete sections and stained glass walls. Their style was not only visually modern, but so was their use of materials. These churches showcase inventive ways for the use of stained glass to light the church interior. Similarly, the Harlow church pioneered the use of shards of stained glass set in concrete or resin slabs known as ‘dalle de verre’, created by Dom Charles Norris of Buckfast Abbey. This style became synonymous with post-war British religious architecture thereafter, although perhaps was never used to as great or as ambitious effect as here.
As well as the church’s architectural style and materials, its layout was also innovative. It is arranged in a T-plan, with the altar in the centre of the congregation, which contrasted against the traditional linear plan of most churches. This was related to the Liturgical Movement which aimed to rethink worship and bring worshippers and priests closer within the building, perhaps something more akin to an ancient gathering in a circle. This T-plan can be seen in other churches of its time, including St. Pauls in Harlow town centre designed a few years later, although Our Lady of Fatima was perhaps pioneering.
Sources:
Historic England, Wikipedia, RIBA pix