Our Buildings

What our buildings say about us

Developing an awareness of the way assumptions are made about individuals and organisations based upon the nature of the buildings they occupy will help us to understand what our buildings are saying to others, they often speak louder that we do.
Recognising the common impression that the Churches primary contribution to community life is the provision of cheap hall accommodation, and understanding how we reach out.
New welcoming and approachable entrances can create buildings which reflect the welcoming nature of the Church family and the relevance of their faith today.
Creating buildings which are visibly open and welcoming when the community is active, challenges the impression given by closed doors and empty buildings that the Church plays no part in the life of the community during the week.

Enhancing the link between the halls and the Worship spaces within the building, often requiring restructuring of the access and circulation routes in existing buildings to enable a Church building to more accurately reflect the nature of inclusive Worship and the healing and caring ministry of the Church.
Creating social and welcoming spaces within existing buildings where this significant element of the Churches relationship with the community was not previously recognised.

The shaping influence of existing buildings is probably most recognisable in the Worship space, where flexibility in use and new patterns of worship are often restricted by the layout and furnishings created in response to patterns of Churchmanship. The nature and grain of the Worship space has an overarching shaping influence which is not always fully recognised.
Reordering schemes for Worship spaces incorporating responsive lighting, presentation media, flexible platform areas and uncluttered environments to enhance Worship must be developed with the Church family to meet their particular needs.
Historic and familiar buildings can be a receptical for community and family memories.

We encourage Churches to consider a premises development plan as a response to their ministry, and we work with them to recognise the way they are conditioned by existing buildings and structures.
The ownership of buildings can be restrictive, Church buildings need to be able to accommodate changing needs.
Churches may consider taking a more flexible approach to finding suitable accommodation.
The need to generate income from Church buildings can significantly shape all aspects of Church life, this needs to be properly recognised and addressed.
The capital and emotional investment in Church buildings tends to resist change and whilst change is a significant element in the Christian journey, for a variety of good reasons Church families can resist and be resistant to embracing change. Alongside discerning the Churches mission the vision must enable the Christian community to embrace physical change and the resulting pastoral needs.