The restoration and reodering of St Mary's Church in Melton Mowbray has been shortlisted for the National Churches Trust and the Ecclesiastical Architects and Surveyors Association Presidents' Award 2018.
The Grade I listed St Mary's church is one of the most notable historic buildings in Leicestershire and is located on a site considered to be of significant archaeological importance, housing remains from the prehistoric to the post-medieval periods.
Buttress was appointed to help the church deliver a major £2 million redevelopment project that would see the church’s facilities improved with new spaces that would make the building more accessible, and allow it to cater for an increasing number of visitors.
The project, considered the church's biggest renovation in 200 years, involved the laying of new stone floor underfloor heating, a new internal north-west porch and new lighting and a new audio-visual system.
A new refreshment facility was also designed to improve the church's catering facilities and to support its growing role as a space for community events. The servery exists within its own self-contained cupboard, located beneath the north transept window and can be entirely concealed when not in use.
As a covered island unit, it can be wheeled out into the necessary position when required. This concealable, movable unit is intended to have as little physical and aesthetic impact on the interior of the church as possible, while providing a new and desired facility for visitors, worshippers, staff and volunteers.
The scheme is one of six to be shortlisted for the prestigious Presidents' Award, which is awarded on behalf of the Ecclesiastical Architects and Surveyors Association President and the National Churches Trust’s Joint Presidents, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.
The winners will be announced by The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO at a special awards ceremony to be held at St Mellitus College SW5 on Thursday 1st November 2018 as part of the Annual General Meeting of the Ecclesiastical Architects and Surveyors Association.
