2 May 2023
A member of the Board of Scene & Word, Peter Jones, recently visited the Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Blackpool. Jonah’s fine sculpture of Our Lady stands on the east façade of the church, and looks to be in good condition. Carved from Portland stone, it is around 6 ft (roughly 2 metres) high. Unusually for Jonah, the figure is accompanied by a pair of cherubs at her feet. The church, designed by E. Bower Norris, with whom Jonah collaborated on several projects during the 1960s, opened in 1961. The sculpture was probably made in the period 1961–67. It may have been commissioned in time for the opening, or some years after, as sometimes happened elsewhere.
Photographs: Maggie Smales