Norwich Historic Churches Trust
CONVERSION OF REDUNDANT CHURCHES TO ALTERNATIVE USES
PRINCIPLES AND EXAMPLES
In 1952 the church of St Simon & St Jude was converted for use by the Scouts Association. Mezzanine floors were inserted for the full length of the nave and in part of the chancel, the west end and the chancel were partitioned off and stairs added at both ends. The conversion created two fine spaces: part of the upper chancel and, more particularly, the upper nave. But the original interior is unrecognisable and the effect on the setting of the fine Pettus monuments is dreadful. Not only are they cramped by the depressingly low ceiling of the lower nave, but this actually cuts across a monument which can only be seen obliquely through a narrow ”slot”.
Such a drastic conversion would find favour today neither with English Heritage, The City Council nor with the Norwich Historic Churches Trust.
The Trust took over responsibility for St Simon and St Jude in 1996. Current thinking, while encouraging new uses for redundant churches in Norwich, is to make every effort to retain the character of the main building spaces , in particular nave and chancel. Subsidiary parts, such as aisles, transepts, vestries and towers, can be partitioned off as smaller spaces with less damage to historic character. But there can be no hard and fast rules in this process: no two churches are alike and no two prospective users have the same requirements or the same budget.
A number of conversions have been carried out since the mid-1970s. How far has the character of the buildings been compromised, what particular issues arose and what lessons may be learnt by all those concerned with new uses for old churches ?
ST JAMES
This is a small church comprising nave, chancel, south aisle, porch and tower. It was converted to Norwich Puppet Theatre in 1980-82. The architect was Peter Codling. The need for a darkened and raked auditorium, stage and back-of- stage area has led to a fairly drastic subdivision of the main space of the church.
Only in the porch, lower tower and the foyer (formed from the south aisle and part of the nave beneath the auditorium) is one aware that this was a church. The use of the tower to house stairs to the rear of the auditorium is effective. The new work is all reversible. But would such a conversion be allowed to day ? An extension on the south side to accommodate rehearsal space, offices and workshop is octagonal, suggesting a cathedral chapter-house. One wonders whether a simple rectangular form might not have worked better.
ST MARTIN AT PALACE
This is a medium sized church, comprising nave, chancel, north and south aisles to both nave and chancel, porch, parvise and tower. It was converted c1990 to a day-centre for the Norfolk Probation Service, and is now used for a similar purpose by the Norfolk Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO). The architect was Peter Codling. Subsidiary spaces have mostly been partitioned off: chancel aisles as meeting rooms, tower as toilets with kitchen over and north nave aisle as workshop and north entrance lobby with a staircase leading to office and boiler room at mezzanine level. But considerably more floor space was needed. This has been skilfully provided by means of a series of “platforms” at different levels, linked by open-tread stairs from the lowest “tier” towards the east end of the chancel to the highest “tier” at the west end of the nave level with the north aisle mezzanine and the tower kitchen. As at St James, the south aisle and the west part of the nave (beneath the highest “platform”) is open-plan and used for reception and office space.
Two further factors influenced the conversion design. Archaeologists had identified this area of the City as one of the longest inhabited. They were therefore particularly interested in finding out more about the origins of this church. A dig established evidence of an earlier church on the site and this in turn led to the idea of creating a sunken sitting area beneath the tiered platforms. At the same time the location of the Probation Service’s offices immediately north of the church resulted in a new main entrance being cut through the north wall (after first establishing that no particular historic features would be effected), This of course leaves the south porch somewhat redundant.
ST MICHAEL COSLANY
This is a large church, comprising nave, chancel, north nave and chancel aisles, the Thorpe chapel to the south, a tower and a rood stair turret. Evidence suggests there was once a south porch, but it has long gone.
The church was converted to a martial arts centre in 1982 but since 1995 it has been Inspire “hands on” Discovery Centre. The architect of the conversion was Anthony Whitwood, City Architect. The alterations are confined to the west end of the nave, where a spacious gallery was built, partly tiered for viewing, below which were toilets, changing rooms and an entrance lobby. These have been slightly modified by Inspire, but the principal of a “west end gallery”, traditionally of course used for organs or minstrels, remains. The tower still houses a peal of bells and the ringing chamber is at gallery level. The new users’ requirements – a large unimpeded space with some smaller ancillary accommodation - has made possible a conversion with only minimal impact on the main historic spaces and allowing the traditional view eastwards to remain largely intact: a comparatively straightforward conversion, and all the better for it.
ST MICHAEL AT PLEA
This is a medium sized church comprising nave, chancel, north and south transepts, south chancel chapel, porch, parvise and tower.
It was converted to an antiques centre in 1982. The architect was Michael Gooch. A kitchen and toilets, enclosed by “single storey” brick walls, were built in the south chancel chapel, with a servery open to a café in the chancel. In 2004 the building was converted to the SPCK bookshop . The kitchen and toilets, now including provision for the disabled, were extended into part of the south transept, but the brick walls were replaced by light weight partitions. The need to provide access for disabled people to the chancel café area, led initially to the idea of a ramp through the opening in the chancel screen. But this would have been very intrusive and taken up a lot of room. 
The solution was a small platform lift in the south transept.
The north transept is partitioned off as a staff office while the manager’s office is accommodated in the parvise. The nave is fully fitted out with display shelving,, posing,the question of where to put the heating. Gas-fired heaters are suspended from the roof: they are bulky and have been dubbed “flying saucers”, but at least they are not directly fixed to the historic fabric and the fine roof can still be appreciated above them.
The former pew platforms have been replaced by carpetting, but elsewhere the historic stone flags and memorial slabs remain visible.
The Victorian screen and the medieval font, with its fine seventeenth century cover, have remained undisturbed through both conversions. The new use allows the building’s historic spaces and features to be still enjoyed.
ST PETER PARMENTERGATE
This is a large lofty church, comprising nave, chancel, porch, parvise and tower. Surprisingly perhaps for such a big church, it has no aisles. The two storey vestry at the east end takes advantage of the steeply sloping site, with its upper floor at chancel level. This part of the building was converted for the use of the Magdalene Group in 1993. But the main building remained vacant. However in 2004 the Norwich Historic Churches Trust seized the opportunity of a special grant scheme to provide “infrastructure” which would be needed by any future tenants. This included the provision of toilets in the tower, hidden behind a new oak screen, and the installation of new heating and lighting. At the same time the redecoration of the nave was begun, as far as funds would allow. The architects for this project were Purcell Miller Tritton. This is the only occasion to date on which the Trust has undertaken building work other than repairs, but it may well point a way forward to encouraging new tenants to take on redundant churches.
After remaining empty for over thirty years, in 2006 the main church was converted to the Norwich Academy of Martial Arts. The tenant is Peter Shipley, who designed and master minded the conversion. He also completed the redecoration of the interior. Wall mirrors line the north wall of the nave, a special floor finish has been laid over the repaired pew platforms (extended across the centre aisle), the chancel has been carpetted and a demountable boxing ring has been set up at the east end. The success of the conversion can be measured by the way in which the historic spaces of nave and chancel remain unaltered and uncluttered. The screen, reredos and font and the fine Berney tomb remain in situ, though the font and tomb are enclosed for protection. The floor has been constructed so as to allow access, on request, to the memorial slabs in the centre aisle of the nave. The Trust is obtaining grant aid to conserve and repair the Berney tomb and it is hoped that it will be possible to make it more visible.
ST SAVIOUR
This is a small church comprising nave, chancel, porch and tower. Previously used as a badminton court, it was converted to The Gate youth venue by Norwich Community Church in the mid-1990s. Entrance is by the west door into the tower and then into a foyer-cum-café separated from the main “hall” by a glazed screen. A projection gallery has been constructed above the foyer, where it is least obtrusive and where it echoes a traditional minstrel’s gallery. More intrusive is the insertion at the east end of a store with stairs leading to an office above, but this is mitigated by the use of glass for the office wall, allowing the east window to remain visible beyond. Toilets are in the porch, so avoiding intruding into the main space of the nave. The windows are shuttered over to allow for video – projection and there is much use of colour in floor finishes and decoration. The character of the church is considerably altered, but all is reversible.
ST SWITHIN
This is a small church, comprising nave, north and south aisles and the token “stub” of a chancel. There is a bell turret on the west gable, though there was once a tower. The Victorian former church hall runs at right angles to the medieval church and is connected to the church by a porch in the angled corner and by a foyer (former vestry ?). The church and hall were converted to Norwich Arts Centre in 1980. The architect was Paul Edwards. The church is now the auditorium and the hall accommodates a café-bar and toilets. The need to provide an entrance foyer and toilets which could serve and link the two “wings”, without having to rely on the very tight access via the corner porch, led to the decision to reverse the orientation of the nave, with the stage at the west end and the main entrance through a new opening in the east wall of the “chancel”.
This required the construction of steps,and subsequently of ramps, to take account of a change in levels. Other changes included black-out boarding over the windows and a lighting gantry suspended from the ceiling and the use of colour on plastered walls and piers. The gantry somewhat masks the view of the fine medieval roof.
In the late 1980s a new entrance foyer was built south of the old foyer and linking it to a newly-acquired building fronting St Benedict’s Street. The architect was Anthony Cleary. The new access is via the south churchyard. This fresh and airy space greatly enhances the feeling of entering the building. But it leaves the auditorium in the historic church much in need of modernisation and a “make-over”.