Exterior of the church
The church was designed by the architect Edward Welby Pugin in 1875 and completed, after his death, by the firm Pugin and Pugin; the partners in the firm being Peter Paul Pugin and Cuthbert Pugin. They and Edward were the sons of Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin, who is famous for designing much of the interior of the Houses of Parliament and the tower for Big Ben.
The style of the church is Early Decorated Gothic. AWN Pugin considered Gothic architecture, from around the 14th century was the greatest style of building. His views on a Gothic revival influenced his sons and many architects subsequently.
The principal stone used in the work is Storeton, from a local quarry; it is faced with Welsh Pierrepoint which has a blueish tinge.
In the original design there was an off-centre tower at the northwest corner, but it was never completed; the tower was to have an octagonal belfry stage from which a spire would have risen to a hight of 125 feet.
Over the tower entrance is a statue of the patroness of the church, St. Anne, the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and at her side is the child Mary reading a book. The statue is in a niche with a canopy of fluted spires and surrounded by carved cherubs with wings outstretched, all standing on a pedestal of carved flowers.
Immediately above the main doorway is a life-size statue of Christ crucified. The cross is ten feet in hight and is decorated with leaves carved in stone. On either side are niches with statues of the Blessed Virgin and St. John. Over the doorway is an inscription: MULIER ECCE SILIUS THUS… ECCE MATER TUA: Woman behold your Son… behold your Mother.
The entrance doors are of English oak with solid iron hinges.
Problems and solutions to weakness in the walls
The Centenary Brochure quotes a note from Fr. Treacy, the Parish Priest in 1935:
“In November 1935, the transept wall of the church which was split for many years showed signs of development, though some treatment had been supplied when the new extensions were added. The architect, after a careful examination of the foundations of the roof submitted his report. Photographs of the walls and windows were taken, and these confirmed the opinion of the architect that the cause of the trouble was the roof, which had been without a tie from the beginning and was exerting great pressure on both transept walls forcing them to incline outwards. The marble pillar also showed considerable deflection. The pillar on the Epistle side to the extent of one and a quarter inches. The roof itself was round to be in perfect condition.
“The architect advised that a concrete flying buttress should be erected outside each transept wall. These would have the effect of strengthening the original weakness in the building. Moreover, a fero-concrete span should be erected from the buttress to a point above the marble pillars on each. This span would be of such a nature and design, as not to interfere with the architecture of the church. In addition, a steel rod should be inserted to tie the roof. Thus, the buttresses would resist the outward pressure of the roof, whereas the fero-concrete spans and the steel rod would reduce the pressure…
“The work was begun at the end of 1935”
“The need of the support was imperative. The photographs taken at the time show the tracery in the windows with gaps in the stonework inches wide. There was a great danger of the walls collapsing, bringing down the roof. It was really providential that the supports to the transept walls had been completed before the war… If the supports had not been there, there is no doubt that the roof and transepts would have been a war casualty.
“The most recent survey shows that the pillars have returned to their original position and that now there is no declination from the plumb line.”