36 YEARBOOK 2026 it faces pressures of maintenance, usability and changing expectations of how the building might be used. Rather than pursuing a single large-scale reordering, the response at St Nicholas has been to develop a phased programme of modest, targeted interventions. These focus on three key areas: comfort, facilities and access. Individually, each addresses a specific barrier to use. Collectively, they reshape how the building functions. Central to this approach was a clear understanding by the church community of what they wanted the building to become. The project was developed around the idea of destination, journey and pace: defining what the church should look and feel like in the future, identifying the steps needed to reach that point and progressing at a pace that reflected available funding and capacity. This understanding has allowed the church to move forward with confidence, delivering change incrementally while maintaining a coherent long-term vision. COMFORT AND AFFORDABILITY The first intervention addressed heating. Churches can be notoriously difficult to heat effectively and attempts to warm the entire volume are often both inefficient and costly. At St Nicholas this issue was particularly acute as the church had been without a functioning heating system for a number of years. In considering how best to address this, a range of options was explored. A heat pump system was assessed but ultimately discounted as unsuitable here. Because the temperature output is typically far lower than a traditional boiler, heat pumps generally require a much larger surface area than a conventional radiator system can provide, and arguably the best solution is to install underfloor heating. However, moving the pews, lifting the The new tea-making area at the back of St Nicholas, with a WC and changing room under the west tower: essential interventions like this are essential for extending the use of many historic parish churches. (Photo: Martyn Jones) Heated cushions fixed to the pews warm the occupants directly, rather than the space as a whole (Photo: Martyn Jones)
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