Discovering > Learning from past projects
Learning from past projects
We want to learn from the experience of those who have recently transformed or reordered their historic place of worship - exploring the transformation of these spaces, the design process undertaken and how the groups engaged with their wider communities during the process.
Since October 2015, we've held workshops at eight different historic places of worship where a design project has taken place in recent years.
These workshops have brought together a range of stakeholders and community members, including those responsible for leading and realising transformations in their places of worship.
For each of these workshops, participants were engaged in a walkabout of their building to explore perceptions and values around architecture, faith, heritage and community. This was followed by a mapping exercise where participants were asked to collaboratively reflect on the timeline of their project and identify key milestones and key assets in their journey. We also elicited impacts and invited groups to share top tips that could help other groups in the future.
Workshops have been held with:
We've also undertaken desk research, conducted interviews and undertaken site visits to a number of other projects including All Souls Bolton, the British Muslim Heritage Centre in Manchester, St Peter's Hereford, All Saints Hereford, St John the Evangelist Fernham, St Peter's Edgware, the Bhaktivedanta Manor and the London Buddhist Centre.
Since October 2015, we've held workshops at eight different historic places of worship where a design project has taken place in recent years.
These workshops have brought together a range of stakeholders and community members, including those responsible for leading and realising transformations in their places of worship.
For each of these workshops, participants were engaged in a walkabout of their building to explore perceptions and values around architecture, faith, heritage and community. This was followed by a mapping exercise where participants were asked to collaboratively reflect on the timeline of their project and identify key milestones and key assets in their journey. We also elicited impacts and invited groups to share top tips that could help other groups in the future.
Workshops have been held with:
- St. Luke's Church, Canning Crescent, Oxford
(read this blog post by Dr Alexiou about the workshop) - Sheffield Buddhist Centre, Sheffield
(read this blog post by Dr Purohit about the workshop) - St Martin's, Bilborough, Nottingham
(read this blog post by Louise Dredge about the workshop) - St. Michael and All Angels, Witton Gilbert, Durham
(read this blog post by Sophia de Sousa about the workshop) - Stratford-upon-Avon United Reformed Church
- St. Peter's Church & Centre, Peterchurch, Herefordshire
- St. John the Baptist, Stadhampton, Oxfordshire
(read this blog post by Becky Payne about the workshop) - St. Benedict's Church, Glastonbury
We've also undertaken desk research, conducted interviews and undertaken site visits to a number of other projects including All Souls Bolton, the British Muslim Heritage Centre in Manchester, St Peter's Hereford, All Saints Hereford, St John the Evangelist Fernham, St Peter's Edgware, the Bhaktivedanta Manor and the London Buddhist Centre.
Resources
Visit our Resources section to learn more about some of the design projects through stories captured by our team.
See also two additional case studies on our blog.
Visit our Resources section to learn more about some of the design projects through stories captured by our team.
See also two additional case studies on our blog.
"A great opportunity to reflect on our project and see it again through new eyes."
- Feedback from a participant in one of our Learning from the past workshops
- Feedback from a participant in one of our Learning from the past workshops