Re-imagining Methodist Property Living Buildings: Adaptation and Reuse

Reimagining Methodist Property i Who we are

Founded 60 years ago by Sir Donald

Insall, we are an employee-owned team of 120 with offices in , , and Cambridge and studios in Bath, , and Conwy.

As well as architects, the team includes historians, former Conservation Officers and Historic England Inspectors. Our motto is ‘Living Buildings.’

Most of our work is in the UK but we also advise abroad with jobs in Trinidad and Tobago, Abu Dubai and India.

Reimagining Methodist Property Methodist Property Holdings: Heritage Assets

“In 2006 there were about 5,312 [Methodist] chapels in England of which 869 (16 per cent) are listed.’”– Historic England, Places of Worship Listing Selection Guide (2017).

Listed buildings also include: Central Halls (unique to ), Sunday schools, halls, manses, stables and open sites.

Reimagining Methodist Property Types of Heritage Assets

• Grade I buildings are of exceptional interest, only 2.5% of listed buildings are Grade I.

• Grade II* buildings are particularly important buildings of more than special interest; 5.8% of listed buildings are Grade II*.

• Grade II buildings are of special interest; 91.7% of all listed buildings are in this class and it is the most likely grade of listing for a home owner. Often buildings that have had some alterations or important historically rather than architecturally. They are still protected externally and internally.

Reimagining Methodist Property Grade I

Capel Peniel in Tremadog, Gwynedd. Built 1810-11 and credited with influencing the architecture of later Welsh chapels.

Wesley's Chapel, City Road. Built 1777 by George Dance. New Room, Bristol. Built 1739, enlarged 1748. Possibly by George Tully. Reimagining Methodist Property Grade II*

Methodist Central Hall, , London. Built 1905-11 to Gwennap Pit at Busveal, . Methodist open air meeting place. designs by Edwin Alfred Rickards Conical pit made in fallen-in mine shaft which was used by John Wesley for preaching in 1762.

Reimagining Methodist Property Grade II*

Bethesda Methodist Chapel, Hanley Staffordshire . Built 1819 with additions of 1859 and 1887.

Reimagining Methodist Property Grade II

Mitcham Methodist Church, designed by the architect Edward Mills and Moriah Methodist Church (Grade II), built 1913 by Owen built in 1958-9. Morris Roberts of Porthmadog.

Reimagining Methodist Property Grade II

Wesley Methodist Church, Chester. Built 1812 to designs by Thomas Harrison.

Reimagining Methodist Property Non Designated Heritage Assets

Sometimes known, rather confusingly, as ‘locally-listed’ buildings. These are buildings that the local authority wants retained. Unlike statutorily listed buildings, interiors are not protected by law – however, a ‘balanced judgement’ is required.

Earlsdon Methodist Church, . Opened as a Wesleyan Chapel in 1923. Locally listed by Coventry City Council in February 1994 for group value with the nearby school and library .

Reimagining Methodist Property Buildings in Conservation Areas

Local planning authorities are obliged to designate as conservation areas any parts of their own area that are of special architectural or historic interest, the character and appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance.

Conservation area designation introduces a general control over the demolition of unlisted buildings and provides a basis for planning policies whose objective is to conserve all aspects of character or appearance, including landscape and public spaces, which define an area’s special interest. Even if the building is not listed at all there will be restrictions on what you Grade I listed Wesley’s Chapel within the Bunhill Fields and Finsbury Square Conservation Area. can do externally.

Reimagining Methodist Property What does this mean with regard to reuse?

Sections 66 and 72 of The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990

‘Special regard to the desirability of preserving the building or its setting or any features of special architectural or historic interest which it possesses [listed buildings];

Special attention shall be paid to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of that area [conservation areas].’

National Planning Policy Framework 2018

‘When considering the impact of a proposed development on the significance of a heritage asset great weight should be given to the asset’s conservation.’ Reimagining Methodist Property

Upper Norwood Methodist Church by Edward Mills, 1964. Assessing Significance: Importance of Research

• To assess significance it is critical to understand a building or place thoroughly.

• Research and analyse its history, purpose materials, construction, aesthetic qualities, and condition.

• Understand what is special about a historic building or place.

• It may as be as much about the history as the actual fabric.

• Only then can you understand how best to intervene.

Reimagining Methodist Property Grade I

St Mark’s, North Audley Street, Mayfair

Church of St Andrew’s Holborn built by Sir in the 18th century. Interior redesigned by DaeWha Kang Design in 2018.

Reimagining Methodist Property Grade I

Restored interior of St Mark's Church, North Audley Street, London. Built 1822 and restored by Grosvenor in 2014 to house an indoor market

Reimagining Methodist Property Grade I

St Luke's Old Street, an Anglican church built in 1773 to designs by and Nicholas . Deconsecrated in 1964, it was converted in 2003 for the London Symphony Orchestra.

Reimagining Methodist Property Grade II*

More freedom to alter – ideally retains some public access.

Church of All Saints, Hereford. Medieval converted in 1997 by to provide café facilities.

Reimagining Methodist Property Grade II*

The former Clapton Park in Hackney, or Round Chapel as it is known locally, built in 1868 as a nonconformist church and restored in 1991 as a church, arts venue and community hub.

Reimagining Methodist Property Grade II*

Tolpuddle Old Chapel Trust (TOCT) is currently repairing the grade II* listed former Methodist Chapel, built 1818, and its site in Tolpuddle, for use as a museum.

Reimagining Methodist Property St George’s RAF Chapel of Remembrance, Biggin Hill Airfield. Chapel built in the in1950s as a memorial to airmen who died in Second World War. Grade II

Still of Special Interest.

The Quarry Theatre at St Luke’s, Bedford School, Ebenezer Methodist Chapel, London. Built in 1808 and created from a redundant Grade II-listed Moravian converted into residential accommodation. church and Minister’s House.

Reimagining Methodist Property Grade II

Grade II-listed Tin Tabernacle in Kilburn, built in 1863 as St James's Episcopal Chapel. Now a base for the Sea Cadets, the building hosts a regular folk club.

Reimagining Methodist Property Grade II

Memories Café, Newcastle Under Lyme Staffordshire. Grade II-listed pub forms the centre of a complex for people with dementia.

Reimagining Methodist Property Former chapel Ross-on-Wye, now apartments. Unlisted

• Possibly in a conservation area or in the country an ANOB area of outstanding natural beauty or National Park).

Refurbishment of a double height • These are the buildings that live/work studio and potentially can be converted to incorporation of a new mezzanine in houses etc. as some sub-division of a former Methodist the large internal space is generally Church in North London. more acceptable. However, there may be some restrictions on development externally depending on location. Restaurant in former Mission Church, Hoxton.

Reimagining Methodist Property Unlisted

The Chapel at Lettaford, North Bovey, Devon. A 19th century former nonconformist chapel. It closed in 1978 and was restored as a holiday home by the Landmark Trust.

Reimagining Methodist Property We hope that this has given you some inspiration and food for thought!

Reimagining Methodist Property