The Church of the Good Shepherd, an unusual brutalist church in Batheaston, is slated for demolition without a vote from councillors, despite calls from the council’s own conservation officer to grant it local listing status.
Built in 1967 by Bath architect Martin Fisher — also known for designing St Peter and Paul’s in Combe Down — the church stands out as a rare example of brutalist architecture in the Bath area. Characterized by poured concrete blocks, a sloping square roof symbolizing a pilgrim’s tent, and unique “Kalwall” windows that reveal colorful patterns only when lit from inside, the church has divided opinion since its construction.
The church closed in March 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic and dwindling attendance. Now, the Diocese of Clifton has secured planning permission from Bath and North East Somerset Council to demolish the building and replace it with four houses. Local councillor Sarah Warren requested the planning application be debated and voted on by the council’s planning committee. However, despite her repeated appeals, the chair and vice chair delegated the approval decision to planning officers, who granted permission.
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The planning officers’ report justified the development, stating it aligns with the council’s development plan and that protective policies “do not provide a strong reason for refusing the development.” The report concluded that “the harms arising from the development do not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.”
Opposition from Batheaston residents has been significant, with 120 objections lodged against the demolition and only one in support. Opponents describe the church as an important historical and architectural statement, while others criticize it as an “eyesore” or “the village joke.” Despite these mixed views, a heritage statement submitted by the Diocese acknowledged the church’s brutalist style as “unashamedly contemporary” but questioned its success as a contextual design.
Contrastingly, Bath and North East Somerset Council’s conservation officer, Caroline Power, praised the church as a “deliberate and successful design ploy” that confidently asserts religious strength within the conservation area. The Council for British Archaeology also supported granting local listing status, highlighting the building’s positive contribution to the area’s post-war social and architectural development.
Batheaston Parish Council cited the church as a “meaningful contribution” to the neighborhood’s character and urged consideration of alternative uses. However, the Diocese has stated that potential occupiers were approached and none showed interest, deeming demolition as “the most sensible route” for the site’s future.
The Church of the Good Shepherd reflects broader changes in Catholic church architecture post-Vatican II, embracing brutalism when it first opened. Its fate now sparks debate over preservation versus development, heritage versus progress—an emblematic conflict for Batheaston and the region’s architectural legacy.