What does it mean to care for creation in a 15th century church?
At St Lawrence, Lechlade, the answer is taking shape in limecrete, insulation, solar panels and a radically more flexible space for worship and community life.
Their renovation project, Project Inspire, is a major remodelling of the church. The aim is to create a building that is more accessible, more welcoming and more flexible, while also taking seriously the Church of England’s work to ambitiously reduce carbon.
“Project Inspire is all about improving the accessibility of the church, improving net zero provisions, and making an attractive church to improve and grow it,” said Nigel Jones, Chairman of Project Inspire and a member of the St Lawrence PCC.
St Lawrence has received funding through the Church of England’s Net Zero programme as a demonstration project. The aim of these demonstration projects is to show to other churches how they can make their own buildings more environmentally friendly.
The project has also been supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, alongside a loan from the Diocese to help with the project’s cash flow. Additional funding has come through the Church of England’s accessibility grant, helping the church to make its historic building more accessible while preserving its heritage.
“The solar panels will be a big part of that. Around 30 panels are due to be installed, alongside battery storage, allowing the church to generate and store its own electricity and put surplus energy back into the grid,” Nigel said.
“Another exciting part is the new floor insulation. Beneath the limecrete is a substantial layer of insulation and underfloor heating, combining modern energy efficiency with materials suited to the historic building.
“However, the project is not just about energy use. It is about creating a church where more people can come, worship and feel at home. New glass doors at the west entrance will make access easier, while an accessible toilet and level access through the building to the communion rail will help people with different mobility needs.”
The work has not been without its challenges. Excavations beneath the church floor uncovered old tombs and some dodgy Victorian brickwork, which meant additional strengthening work was needed. “The archaeological work was carefully managed, and the project was able to continue without disturbing existing burials,” Nigel said.
The finished church, aimed to be completed in November, will look very different. The pews have gone, walls are being restored, new lighting is being installed and flexible seating will allow the space to be used for worship, concerts and community events. Audiovisual equipment will also make services more accessible and engaging.
“St Lawrence already has a regular congregation of around 100 at its 10am service. The hope is that Project Inspire will help that congregation grow and encourage more people through the doors. The project is not simply about preserving an old building, but giving it a new future.
“We”re going back to pre-Victorian times to have an open and welcoming church,” Nigel said.
News Hub
