ECCLESIASTICAL ARCHITECTS
Caring for sacred spaces with skill and sensitivity
Ecclesiastical Architecture in Kent
Church buildings are unlike any other. They hold memories, rituals, and community life within walls often built centuries ago. Working with them requires not only technical and heritage expertise but also sensitivity to worship, pastoral priorities, and limited resources. Our ecclesiastical architecture work supports parishes across Kent and the South East as they care for and adapt their buildings for today and tomorrow.
Re‑ordering is a common need. Changing patterns of worship, new forms of mission, and a desire to open churches to broader community use all create pressure on traditional fixed layouts. We help PCCs explore options ranging from modest adjustments – such as introducing flexible seating areas or discreet audio‑visual infrastructure – to more extensive schemes involving removals or relocations of pews, new liturgical furniture, or the creation of multi‑purpose spaces.
Each proposal is rooted in a clear Statement of Need and informed by a careful understanding of the building’s significance.
Opening Churches to All
Accessibility is central to this work. Many older churches present barriers to people with limited mobility, visual impairment, or other needs. We look for ways to improve access from street to seat: level thresholds, ramps, handrails, accessible WCs, clearer circulation routes, and better lighting and signage.
In listed buildings, these interventions must be sensitively integrated, but they are no less important for that. Inclusive design reinforces the message that the church is truly open to all.
Liturgical requirements provide both structure and opportunity. We listen carefully to clergy and congregations about how they celebrate the sacraments, preach, gather, and serve. Altar position, font location, processional routes, choir arrangements, and sightlines all matter. Our designs aim to support good liturgy without overwhelming it.
Navigating Ecclesiastical Consents
Navigating the faculty system and related approvals is an integral part of ecclesiastical architecture. We prepare Statements of Significance and Need, visual material, and supporting reports that explain proposals clearly to DACs, amenity societies, and planning authorities where required.
Early, open dialogue often leads to better outcomes, and we encourage iterative review with consultees rather than adversarial confrontation. Where projects intersect with secular planning regimes – for example, external alterations in conservation areas – we manage the interface so that information aligns across processes.
Church Re-ordering
Flexible layouts for contemporary worship and community use
Accessibility
Inclusive design from street to seat
Liturgical Design
Spaces that support and enhance worship
Faculty Applications
Expert navigation of ecclesiastical consents