A classic photograph by Mark Fiennes (for Country Life) of the new R.C. Church of St Mary Magdalen, Penwortham near Preston.

Large version

St. Mary Magdalen Church, Penwortham: A new Parish Church for the R.C. Archdiocese of Liverpool. The Church was reviewed at length in Church Building and featured in Country Life as ‘Best Church of the Decade’. It was completed in 1988 at a cost of £250,000. Published in: Country Life, February 1988 “This combination of fine architecture, good craftsmanship and the use of sensitive artist craftsmen has not been seen since the Arts and Crafts ideals were swamped by the Modern movement. For this reason alone, St. Mary Magdalen, Penwortham, is without a doubt the most important church to have been built since Goodhart-Rendel died in the 1950s.” Also featured by Lucinda Lambton in her television programme ‘Hurrah for Today’ in 1990 and included in the 20th Century Church Exhibition, R.I.B.A. Heinz Gallery, London. 1997.