Conservation & Heritage Issue 49 October 2025 - Flipbook - Page 68
St Mary’s Walthamstow
St Mary’s Walthamstow is a regenerative project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund,
to enable the parish to secure the future of their Grade II* listed church, whilst ensuring
accessible and sustainable community outreach. St Mary’s vision was to bring local
communities together to explore their heritage, cultures, and histories in a flexible, inclusive
and welcoming setting. The overall result is a working church firmly at the centre of the
community where all are warmly welcomed. From inception the project took six years to
complete. The historical significance of the building meant extensive consultation was required
with the Local Authority, Diocese and Historic England. Budget limitations meant considered
use of resources was required to ensure balance between repairs and enhancements.
The completed project includes restoration and re-ordering
of the church and the addition of a modest timber
extension, preserving and enhancing this historic asset and
its setting. Community provision is enabled, both in the
new extension, with a gallery and inviting Parish Office,
and in the historic spaces where sensitive interventions
enhance the quality, access, and use. Fixed pews were
replaced with flexible seating and underfloor heating, level
thresholds achieved throughout, a compliant accessible
WC introduced, and a hearing loop installed. The two
vestries have been renovated as flexible meeting spaces,
while a new staircase makes the gallery more accessible.
Externally a car park was replaced with a calm forecourt,
prioritising pedestrians and linking historic pathways
through the churchyard with the streets beyond.
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The extension, whilst distinctly contemporary, sits
comfortably in its context: the form and detailing reference
the church and its surroundings, while a limited material
palette of zinc, larch and reconstituted stone reinforces the
design approach and complements the historic church. The
visible glulam frame uses a modern construction technique
to interpret the nearby Tudor half-timbered Ancient House.
Inside the church, layers of previous alterations of little
historical significance were carefully removed to unveil
the true historic essence of the building, before sensitively
inserting new finely detailed elements, which harmoniously
delineate the new while enhancing the old. The resulting
spaces celebrate the monuments and historic features whilst
adding a contemporary layer to the history of the church.
Conservation & Heritage Journal
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