Church Featured on Chemical Brothers Album Cover Added to ‘At Risk’ Register

A church prominently featured on a Chemical Brothers’ album cover has been designated as being in “desperate need of support” and subsequently included in the Historic England at risk register. This particular site is one of 29 structures in the East of England that were added to the register for 2024. The East of England region now accounts for 427 entries on the register this year, marking an increase of 15 from the 2023 total. Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, commented, “Together, we can save our places and find new ways to enjoy the heritage that people value so much.” Furthermore, the organization allocated £730,000 in grants during the 2023 to 2024 period to facilitate repairs at 25 different locations, a measure that contributed to saving and delisting 14 sites from the register. Historic England describes its Heritage at Risk Register as an “annual snapshot of the health of England’s valued historic buildings and places”. Among the 427 entries specifically within the East of England, the breakdown includes 132 places of worship, 11 parks and gardens, and one protected wreck site. According to the organization’s most recent research, the heritage sector in the region generated £4.6 billion for the economy and provided employment for 63,000 individuals annually in 2022. Heritage minister Sir Chris Bryant remarked, “The UK has an abundance of heritage sites across the country that attract tourists and provide jobs in local communities. Many of these are in desperate need of support.” The Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of Fatima, situated in Harlow, Essex, gained recognition by appearing on the 1998 Chemical Brothers album, *Brothers Gonna Work It Out*. This structure represented the inaugural ecclesiastical commission for Gerard Goalen (1918-1999), who conceived its design between 1953 and 1954 and is recognized as “one of the most important British architects of the Roman Catholic Modernist movement”. Harlow itself was established as one of 20 entirely new towns under the 1946 New Towns Act. The church, a Grade II* listed building, occupies a prominent urban position within New Town. Mr. Goalen endowed the building with a notably modernist aesthetic, featuring impressive large glass panels; however, its distinctive spire structure is currently decaying, and the roof requires maintenance. The 12th Century chapel of St Mary Magdalen stands as one of Cambridge’s most ancient complete surviving edifices. Initially serving as the chapel for an isolation hospital dedicated to the care of individuals with leprosy, it has subsequently functioned as both a bar and a warehouse throughout its history. This Grade I listed building’s continued existence is attributed to its association with the Stourbridge medieval fair, which was among Europe’s largest. Presently, it faces risks stemming from issues related to dampness, drainage, its roof, and cracking masonry. Its owner, Cambridge Past, Present and Future, has indicated that a minimum of £250,000 is necessary to cover the costs of its repairs. Glasshouses, thought to have been designed by Sir Joseph Paxton (1801-1865), the architect behind Crystal Palace, have exhibited indicators of structural vulnerability and deteriorating brickwork. These structures are integrated into a Grade II* listed walled kitchen garden, which was constructed around 1846 at Somerleyton Hall, a stately home located in Somerleyton, Suffolk. Somerleyton Hall itself, characterized by Historic England as “one of the finest Victorian stately homes in the country,” was previously owned by Sir Samuel Morton Peto, an engineer and railway pioneer, prior to its acquisition by carpet manufacturer Sir Francis Crossley. Approximately 14 volunteers currently engage in gardening activities at the estate. Historic England has emphasized the need to preserve one of Norwich’s most ancient residences, dating back to the 12th Century, which is also the sole secular building from that era to have endured. The Grade I listed Music House showcases an impressive arched undercroft, while its King Street facade predominantly originates from the 17th Century. It holds historical connections to the Paston family, renowned for their significant collection of letters spanning the 15th to 17th centuries, and to Lord Chief Justice Coke, a 17th Century politician who played a crucial role in the Petition of Right. Norwich City Council has already initiated urgent repair efforts on the property. The Roman Catholic Cathedral of St John the Baptist represents another Norwich landmark that has been included on the register. Completed in 1910, the cathedral was assessed as “at risk” because of problems with its rainwater pipes operating at full capacity and defective gutters that were causing leaks into the roof. On a more positive note, the Grade I listed St Margaret’s Church, located on Benedict Street in Norwich, has been removed from the at-risk list. This follows the receipt of funding from Historic England, which enabled repairs to its roof, masonry, and drainage system. The church is one of 31 medieval churches that still stand within Norwich’s city walls and is scheduled to host a community art exhibition this winter. Similarly, the 500-year-old Church of St Edmund in Kessingland, Suffolk, has undergone repairs, including re-thatching, and has consequently been removed from the at-risk register. A series of social activities is being planned to ensure the Grade I listed church remains a focal point of village life.