F. X. Velarde

Who is F. X. Velarde?

Francis Xavier Velarde was an English architect who practiced in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. He was trained at the Liverpool School of Architecture from 1920, and from 1928 taught at the school. In 1957 he was awarded the OBE. His works are located mainly in Merseyside and Northwest England, and most of them were churches. He was influenced by architectural developments on the Continent, in particular by the German Dominikus Böhm. He was also influenced by Spanish architecture from his father who was of spanish descent. His design of St Gabriel, Blackburn, is considered to be "one of the milestones in the development of English church architecture towards Modern Movement style".

Although Pollard and Pevsner state that he "worked exclusively for the Roman Catholic Church", he did design one Anglican church, St Gabriel, Blackburn. Five of his churches have been designated by English Heritage as listed buildings. The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Blackpool is listed at Grade II*, and listed at Grade II are St Monica's Church, Bootle, English Martyrs' Church, Wallasey, St Teresa's Church, Upholland, and Holy Cross Church, Bidston. He also designed Roman Catholic schools, one of which is in Birkdale.