Art & Architecture

Exterior view belltower
Our church was designed by Frederick Banham, a local architect (and also Mayor of Beccles), after the church of the Santissima Trinità dei Monti, Rome. It is a Grade II Listed Building (click here to read Historic England’s full Listing report).

The unusual shape, with the two symmetrical belltowers, is thought to be modelled on Santissima Trinità dei Monti: a famous church in Rome, situated at the top of the Spanish Steps, which John George Kenyon would have been able to see from his prison cell during his incarceration.

A view of the church of the Santissima Trinità dei Monti from the bottom of the Spanish Steps
A view of the church of the Santissima Trinità dei Monti from the bottom of the Spanish Steps

Some more photographs and engravings of Santa dei Monti over the years may be seen here.

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Gillingham: view of the double belltowers
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Gillingham: view of the double belltowers

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