Nye Saunders held an appointment as Inspecting Architect and whilst in the process of seeking tenders for roof repairs received a call to say that an arson attack on Christmas Eve had left the church largely gutted by fire damage and requiring a virtually compete rebuild.

 

We worked with the church’s insurers the EIG & the church group in order to first of all make the structure safe and to then assist with looking into the options available for the re-build.

 

Various design options were looked into and the church decided to pursue the final design with a new open worship space with as minimal a roof structure presence as possible The opportunity to introduce a new combined entrance for church and hall complex was also taken, as well as a reconfiguration of the previous raked gallery arrangement into a flexible gallery / independent meeting room.

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The church were conscious of the need to have the church rebuilt as soon as possible and we were able to organise a phased works programme in order to in Phase 1 stabilise walls, install a new insulated floor and new roof structure, leading to a Phase 2 of the final fitting out; the detailed design of which was being developed as Phase 1 was under construction.

 

The fire occurred on Christmas Eve 2003 and the rebuilt church was handed over with practical completion in March 2006.