winter, and the volunteer guides equally inhibited by the cold and draughts during the summer months. To combat this, the architect has designed a
glazed screen and double doors within the stone archway of the inside face of the south doorway. The existing doors were designed to fold back and in that position when the church is open will provide sufficient room to allow a frameless glazed screen to fit into the opening. Nothing will be lost, but the result will mean that the church can appear to be open and welcoming even on the gloomiest and coldest days and the valiant volunteers can be protected from the vagaries of the English summer weather.While this is not a design solution which would be appropriate for all churches, it seems entirely appropriate for this doorway.
CC
StAlkelda’s is grade I listed and located in the heart of a conservation area. It dates from late 14th century and was restored by Paley and Austin in 1890-92. The church attracts many visitors, which is no surprise given the quality of its interior and the sense of history that
Church of St Alkelda Giggleswick North Yorkshire
Below, St Alkelda at Giggleswick. The parish wishes to remove all pews from the west end and some in the north aisle and the memorial chapel, and carpet portions of the cleared areas. Further, it plans to create storage areas in the aisles and glaze-in the memorial chapel. The SPAB is concerned at the extent of the proposals, which would greatly compromise the historic and physical interest of this important building
overwhelms you upon entering the building. The parish wishes to create more flexible
community spaces within the church and is proposing to remove all pews from the west end to allow for a carpeted area, remove more pews from the north aisle and the memorial chapel, create storage spaces within the north and south aisles, insert a new draught proof lobby and glaze-in the memorial chapel. We have expressed concern over the extent
of the current proposals, which we believe will overwhelm and compromise the integrity of the internal space. We have questioned whether there is really a need to alter the Memorial Chapel and such a large proportion of the west end as well. By carpeting such a large area of the west end this will dramatically alter the ambience of the church and potentially isolate the font. We are also concerned at the quantity of new
glazing being proposed to enclose theMemorial Chapel and to replace the existing 1920s timber lobby.We especially felt that the Memorial Chapel glazing would be too visually intrusive for those seated in the nave and south aisle during services, with the extent of modern glazing being at odds with the stone and timber that dominate the space.We have asked whether consideration has been given to refurbishing the existing lobby to improve its draught-proof qualities rather than replacing it. The existing provision for the kitchen and
choir vestry, inserted within the past 20 years, are reasonably non-intrusive with the use of decorative timber panels and curtains lining the spaces. They have adapted well within their environment. We accept the need to replace the existing kitchen facilities with more modern ones but do not understand why a new full height glazed screen is necessary. We would prefer for the existing screens to remain in situ. Paley andAustin were responsible for the
existing pews and, as such, the Victorian Society has commented at length about their removal and suggested that some could be adapted with castors to enable them to be used in a flexible manner within the west end. As a result there would be no need for a separate chair store, which at present looks awkward in its proposed location opposite the south entrance in the north aisle. We hope that the Parish will consider our
comments and seek to provide a flexible community area within the church but achieving this in a more sensitive manner to this attractive historic building.
NaomiHatton Cornerstone, Vol 32, No 3 2011 29
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