The Forsyths Catalogue for artwork at St Josephs Church, Burslem by Carmel Dennison 2008

A Burslem Masterpiece — Against All Odds

St Joseph's Church in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, contains one of the most remarkable interiors of any Catholic church in England — a complete artistic programme of paintings, ceiling art, stained glass, and altar work, conceived and realised as a community effort in the heart of the Potteries.

At the centre of the story are Gordon Forsyth — Superintendent of the Stoke-on-Trent Art Schools and one of the most influential figures in the history of British ceramics and design — and his daughter Moira Forsyth, a distinguished stained glass artist. Together, they led the creation of an interior that, by any measure, should not exist in a parish church in an industrial town. That it does is a testament to vision, community, and the extraordinary creative legacy of the Potteries.

This commemorative booklet, written by historian and church member Carmel Dennison and sponsored by Burslem pottery company Steelite International, tells that story in full. It covers the paintings, the ceiling art, the stained glass, and the altar, drawing on early 20th-century photographs and extensive original research. Published as a limited edition to help raise funds for the church's ongoing maintenance.

An essential read for anyone interested in the Forsyths, the arts and crafts heritage of the Potteries, or the history of Burslem.

Details

• Author: Carmel Dennison
• Sponsored by: Steelite International
• Published: 2008
• Format: Limited edition commemorative booklet, A5 (21 cm × 14.8 cm / 8.3" × 5.8")