1963 – St. Theresa’s Church, Sion Mills, Co. Tyrone

The construction of a new church had been discussed for several years, until in 1961 plans for the building were accepted. The new church of St. Theresa was dedicated and officially opened on 25th August 1963. It was highly commended in the RIAI awards of 1961-62.

Simply detailed externally, its major external feature is the vast depiction of the Last Supper on the entrance front, incised in slate by the Irish artist Oisin Kelly – the figures are depicted in an early Celtic style. The immediate impression of the building is that it bears little in the way of traditional church architecture.

Internally light is admitted by a continuous clerestory and narrow full-height strips lighting the altar at west. These contain a decorative geometric pattern. In the porch two panels depicts Christ’s parents: Mary is seen spinning, while Joseph labours at his carpenter’s bench. The windows are also hand-crafted and are by Dublin stained-glass artist Patrick Pollen (1928–2010) . The interior contained a collection of work by Irish based artists. The altar furniture was designed by Werner Schurmann (1929-2012), and the original sanctuary cross was the work of Patrick McIlroy (1923-2008). The carved stations are by Ray Carroll (1930-94). Next to the altar is the circular font, carved with biblical images by Oisin Kelly.

Werner Schurmann was a German sculptor who lived and worked in Ireland during the 1950s and 60s. He received a number of public commissions for works in German and Irish churches and did illustrations for the Dolmen Press, Dublin. Patrick McElroy worked as a blacksmith before serving with the RAF during World War II. From 1948, McElroy attended evening classes in Fine Art at the National College of Art, Dublin. He received recognition for his metal enamelling and sculptural work from the early 1960s, receiving numerous ecclesiastic commissions.