Historic Churches 2020

BCD SPECIAL REPORT ON HISTORIC CHURCHES 27 TH ANNUAL EDITION 13 Vowchurch and Turnastone PCC has appointed Connelly Wellingham as the project architects and Sam Hine as the project manager. Sam’s role is to provide the link between the project team, design team, national partners, the PCC and local stakeholders. Virtuous Circles operates at a number of levels: at the local level with the Turnastone pilot and at a more strategic level in designing and developing a replicable project concept that can be rolled out to other interested churches and parishes. PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS/ FUTURE CHALLENGES Over the past year, Fergus Connelly and Charlie Wellingham have spent their time working with the PCC and listening to their views to perfect and refine the design to meet local expectations in Turnastone. Sam has supported the PCC and worked on business planning, operational challenges, management structures and testing out ideas with the PCC and the project team. When asked what they see as fundamental to the longterm future of the scheme, the architects responded: Economy and cost are critical to the success of this project, and as we test the business case alongside design development, we are hopeful this becomes a real means of sustainable economic futures for churches. The main cost efficiencies this scheme can offer will be through the time and material savings of off-site pre-fabrication, and the economies of scale of replicable details in the construction and fit-out. The more standardised the units become, the easier and cheaper they will be to duplicate in future schemes and roll out to help more churches across the United Kingdom. However, it is clear to us as architects that a ‘one size fits all’ approach will not be appropriate to the vastly varied interiors of these historically significant listed buildings. Striking the right balance is essential; between an economically efficient and standardised unit (that might be inappropriate to the variety of church interiors), and a bespoke unit crafted to reflect each individual church (that might be too expensive to offer a genuinely viable and affordable solution). The Diocese of Hereford has spent many years supporting parishes with their church buildings, and this exciting project is yet another tool to go alongside others like Crossing the Threshold and Mission and Mortar; a new online resource platform specifically designed to share knowledge and information more widely and time efficiently. Hopefully these projects will give churches within Herefordshire and other rural areas a sustainable future, allowing them to continue as much loved places of worship and to remain open in the hearts of their communities. Further Information Diocese of Hereford, www.hereford.anglican.org/ crossingthethresholdtoolkit/ and www.hereford.anglican.org/ missionandmortar/ Herefordshire churches, www.visitherefordshirechurches.co.uk/ Communities Can, www.communities-can.co.uk/ Connolly Wellingham Architects, www.connollywellingham.com WENDY COOMBEY and TIM BRIDGES work for the Diocese of Hereford. She is Community Partnership and Fundraising Officer, as well as the Chair of Herefordshire Churches Tourism Group. He is Church Buildings Support Officer and also works at The Victorian Society as a conservation advisor.