Issue 42 summer 24 web - Flipbook - Page 55
glass manufactured to accurately reflect every nuance of
the pillar.
Fully enclosing the porch with glass and installing a
pair of automatic glass doors set within a bespoke glass
screen transformed the entrance, creating a weatherproof
space that allows the doors to stay open during activities,
allowing natural light into the building.
Fully secure, the newly installed glass double doors allow
the church to be locked whilst still allowing visitors access
to the entrance lobby and uninterrupted views of the
interior. Creating a draught-free lobby has additional
benefits with regard to heating the church: the external
wooden doors can now be left open to introduce more
light to the interior without significant heat loss.
The automated doors operate via a touch button fitted
to an external stainless steel safety barrier, giving easy access to the less mobile and to parents with young children
and buggies. Ion also developed a glass manifestation to
apply to the doors, in keeping with the original design of
the church.
Holy Trinity Church at Wantage in Oxfordshire was
built in 1907 to serve the local community but the congregation had dwindled and the building was only being
used for a few hours a week. The decision was taken to
reorder the church so it could be used for both worship
and regular community events. Introducing kitchen and
toilet facilities, improving storage and replacing the
wooden pews with lightweight chairs allows the interior
of the church to be used for a wide variety of activities
from Yoga and Circle Dancing to Baby and Toddler
groups.
People now use the church regularly, with increased
attendance at Sunday services as well as for the range of
activities during the week.
The city centre church of St Mary’s at the Quay in
Ipswich had fallen into disuse and was restored and
renovated to create an award-winning heritage and
wellness centre. A significant use of structural glass was
commissioned throughout the building to ensure contemporary functionality without detracting from the original
medieval architecture.
Most importantly the entrance to the church was made
more user-friendly and accessible. The church had been
built with an open brick and timber porch and a heavy,
arched wooden door. A key aspect of the re-ordering was
to cut the wooden door in half, creating double doors that
are much easier to open without losing the style and
essence of the original design.
In particular, the glass porch was entirely created from
glass, providing immediate visual access to the restored
nave and magnificent double hammer-beam roof whilst
protecting the building from draughts and heat loss via
the original entrance. Key to the design was a need to
Above, glass entrance porch at St Mary on the Quay
i
i
Conservation & Heritage Journal
53
