A building containing a school and a chapel was built in 1853 in Plex Street, Tunstall, and had a resident priest from 1854. A new church, dedicated to St Mary, andpresbytery were built in 1869 in Sun Street (now St Aidan's Street). St Mary's was in use until the opening in 1930 of the Church of the Sacred Heart in Queen's Avenue. The Sun Street building remained as a Sunday school until it was sold in 1934.[3]
The foundation stone was laid by BishopThomas Shine in 1925. The church was originally by John Sydney Brocklesby, the architect ofSt Joseph's Church, Burslem;[4] P. J. Ryan, the parish priest from 1903 to 1951, initiallyclerk of works for this building, completed the design.[2][3][5] It was opened by ArchbishopRichard Downey in 1930.[6]
The building, of Derbyshire stone, is inRomanesque style. It has a tower in the north-west, and acampanile, and it is roofed with a series of three copper domes. The west door has a large arch with chevronmouldings.[2][3]
There is anave andclerestory, two aisles, and anapsidalchancel with anambulatory. The main altar, and altars in side chapels in the north aisle, are of marble, decorated with inlay and mosaic.[2][3]
The stained glass, bench-carvings and some ironwork were created by young parishioners under the guidance ofGordon Forsyth, director of theBurslem School of Art. There are furnishings bought abroad by Fr. Ryan.[2][3][6]
