Historic Churches 2019

BCD SPECIAL REPORT ON HISTORIC CHURCHES 26 TH ANNUAL EDITION 37 of the interior. Every church is unique, and a solution that is suitable in one place may be unsuitable in another, but the following points may be helpful. Continuity of use Conservation is said to be the process of managing change in ways that best sustain the heritage values of the place for present and future generations. As such, conservation is often a balancing act, with gains in one aspect of a building’s significance weighed against drawbacks in another. Seen objectively, proposals aimed to ensure the continued use of a place of worship are among the most important, because religious use is intrinsic to its character and significance. Some degree of alteration is acceptable in even the most important buildings, particularly if introduced in a way that is reversible. Reversibility Toilets and kitchen facilities are often designed as pod-like additions which are, in theory, easily reversible, allowing the form and shape of the building to be recovered at some future point, or for a better solution to be achieved. To be fully reversible, no part of the scheme should have any permanent effect on the existing fabric, but in practice the addition of services almost always requires some degree of physical alteration, as does the attachment of new structures such as door frames and partitions. As ever in conservation, it is important not to lose a sense of perspective and to weigh all the issues. If a location is perfectly suited to the use proposed and there are no alternatives, designing for reversibility could be academic as, once installed, it will never be removed. In this case the best solution may well be one that complements the space and inflicts the minimum intervention on historic fabric, irrespective of whether it is reversible. Minimum intervention One of the mantras of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings has always been to fit new to old, retaining as much of the original fabric as possible without alteration. This philosophy applies to all aspects of conservation, taking into account how the new work will impact all aspects of the significance of the existing building, its fabric and its setting. Long term performance The effects of alterations need to be considered in terms of both their immediate impact and their effects over the longer term to avoid any unintended consequences. For example, anything that covers historic fabric, be it paint, rubber-backed carpet or a dry lining over areas of wall, floor or monument, must be considered in terms of vapour permeability. Covering large areas with less permeable materials may set up a chain of events that leads to saturation and heat loss in one area, with evaporation and salt efflorescence at the extremities. Trapped moisture may also cause new and original fabric to decay. Honesty of design For a small church or chapel where the facilities need can be off-putting. However, they are environmentally sound and safe to use. The introduction of mains drainage or a septic tank allows toilet facilities to be located indoors, which in bad weather is clearly preferable. However, finding space for a small room will inevitably effect a significant change in the character of part A traditionally detailed tea servery and toilet infill to the base of a bell tower at St Wilfred’s, Leeds, by Richard Crooks Partnership: the platform above includes a place for bell ringing as well as a font (Photo and drawings: Richard Crooks)