Inspiration corner - what others have done

There are examples across the country where churches, both active and closed for regular worship, have successfully adapted their buildings for wider community use. Some of our favourites are showcased below

We will be adding to this as our website develops, please check back regularly for more exciting projects. You can also find more information for many of these online - put them into your favourite internet search engine or check what's in our useful links page for church adaptations.

Maastricht, Domenica - Selexyz bookshop

One from the continent - but what an incredible transformation of what was once a redundant space used only for the storage of bicycles. Now a spectacular bookshop where you can roam the shelves at the height of the aisles and get a close-up of the architecture with your novel of the week

London, Bromley-by-Bow Centre

A United Reformed Church which has gone from strength to strength by opening its doors to the community and developing a range of services on site which has made it a thriving hub in the community. From a GP surgery to artists workshops, a landscape architect practice and small business start-up units, meeting rooms and community cafe - even an organic garden and community park have become part of what is offered on site - as well as a thriving church community.

Peterchurch St Peter Centre, Herefordshire

A Grade I listed Anglican church in rural Herefordshire that has been successfully transformed to become a multi-purpose space for use by the community outside of service hours for everything from yoga to childrens day nursery. There are cleverly concealed toilet and kitchen facilities, and the tower has an superb community lending library, complete with its own set of bells!

Yarpole St Leonards, Herefordshire

 

 

An excellent example of where an Anglican church in a small rural community has reorganised to include a post office, shop, flexible community space that can be used for meetings, conferences, community events and yes, church services too.

York St Saviours, Yorkshire - the DIG Museum

Unleash your inner archaeologist with a trip to this converted church. Not used for worship since the 1970's, this church has been given a new lease of life through its use as an educational centre and interactive museum, benefitting from its proximity to the Viking musuem, Jorvik, just down the road