Michael Hodges

The remarkable restoration of St Birinus, Dorchester-upon-Thames

st birinus, probably a monk of st andrew’s benedictine monastery on the caelian hill in rome, was ordered by pope honorius i to england in 6...

The English cathedrals and churches of Edward Welby Pugin (1834-75)

the reputation of ew pugin has inevi tably, to a degree, been overshadowed by that of his father, augustus welby northmore pugin (1812-52). ...

Preston – a rare Catholic cityscape

The wonderful historic Catholic churches of Preston should be a priority for restoration – a coordinated approach is needed
preston is today a city of some 120,000 inhabitants. it is situated on the north bank of the ribble in lancashire. it is relatively unique a...

Surveying three Ordinariate churches

the personal ordinariate of our lady walsingham was established on 15 january 2011 by pope benedict xvi in accordance with the apostolic con...

Unidentified ecclesiastical objects

An assessment of post-war Catholic churches, from fan-shaped “flying saucers” to concrete cathedrals
anglican (and some catholic) friends usually regard post-war catholic churches with a degree of horror. the catholic church in this country ...

Last of the Antiquarian Country Parsons

With the centenary of Henry Thorold’s birth in June, <I>Michael Hodges</I> celebrates the 
life of one of Britain’s most eccentric but brilliant ecclesiastical historians
four of us assembled at sotheby’s on a chilly february day in 2000 to drive up to marston, a few miles north of grantham, off the a1, to att...

Pointed Arch: the glorious facade of the London Oratory

In our new architectural column, <I>Michael Hodges</I> admires the London Oratory of St Philip Neri 
and the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
the ashlar facade of the london oratory, next to its neighbour the victoria and albert museum, continues to dominate the west end of the bro...

A walk among the ruins

<i>Michael Hodges</i> follows in Archbishop Becket’s footsteps along the Clarendon Way
the clarendon way runs from the river avon close to salisbury cathedral in wiltshire to the river itchen near winchester cathedral in hampsh...

Architect’s requiem

After 200 years of building new English churches, is the vocation of the Catholic architect over, asks <I>Michael Hodges</I>
the “catholic architect” is in danger of extinction. it has now been 20 years since a catholic church of note has been built in britain. but...

Diary: by Michael Hodges

i am writing this on the feast of our lady of walsingham, overlooking the terrace of villa palazzola outside rome, which offers stunning vie...

The copious output of Joseph Hansom

The work of the prolific 19th-century inventor and architect includes a number of striking Catholic churches
joseph hansom is probably most familiar to the modern mind for his invention of the “patent safety cab” in 1834. the hansom cab with its two...

The churches chewed out by Vatican II

In the rush to alter churches following Vatican II’s new instructions, Catholic dioceses often did more harm than good
the constitution on the sacred liturgy sacrosanctum concilium was solemnly promulgated by his holiness pope paul vi on 4 december 1963. it i...

The Holy Land: joy of the whole earth

The Herald’s architecture column follows the Editor on pilgrimage to the Holy Land
the pointed arch has never previously found the need to abandon the safe shores of england in its search for suitable subject matter. howeve...

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