CHURCHES TO HOMES ARCHITECTS
Transforming sacred spaces into extraordinary living
Church Conversion Specialists in Kent
Across Kent and the South East, many redundant churches and chapels are looking for a new chapter. For the right client, these buildings offer extraordinary potential: soaring volumes, crafted stonework, stained glass, and a strong sense of place, often in established neighbourhoods or dramatic landscape settings.
Our practice helps turn these former places of worship into distinctive, comfortable homes that respect their history while functioning beautifully for modern living.
Converting a church to a home is very different from a standard residential project. The existing fabric can be complex, and there are often planning, heritage, and community considerations to manage.
Respecting Volume & Light
We begin with a thorough assessment of the building: its structure, orientation, access, daylight, and existing features such as pews, galleries, and memorials. This gives us the information we need to design layouts that feel natural, make the most of the volume and light, and create a clear hierarchy of public and private spaces.
Every church building has its own character and challenges. High windows can make it harder to create cosy, intimate rooms; deep plans can complicate natural light and ventilation; and acoustics can be lively.
We respond to these constraints with inventive but practical design moves: inserting new floor levels where appropriate, introducing rooflights or carefully placed new openings, and using joinery or pods to create bedrooms and bathrooms that sit comfortably within the existing envelope.
Navigating Complex Approvals
Because many churches are listed or sit within conservation areas, heritage and planning issues play a major role. We prepare clear, well‑illustrated proposals showing how key features will be preserved, integrated, or – where necessary – sensitively relocated.
We work collaboratively with local planning authorities and conservation officers, explaining how our approach safeguards significance while ensuring the building has a viable long‑term use. In some cases, we also help clients explore subdivision into multiple dwellings where this is appropriate and supported by policy.
Redundant Churches
Expert conversion of chapels and churches
Listed Status
Sensitive handling of Grade I, II* and II buildings
Conservation Areas
Working within heritage constraints
Feature Retention
Preserving stained glass, tracery and timber roofs