Developing > Themed workshops
Themed workshops
This element of our work usually brings together multiple groups that come from a specific geographic area, faith group, or share a common issue or interest to reflect on their projects, gain new skills and learn from one another.
Themed workshops held to date include:
How great design can unlock the potential of churches with the Yorkshire Baptist Association (YBA), Sheffield:
A design engagement workshop in July 2018 organised in partnership with the Yorkshire Baptist Association as part of a series of training opportunities offered by YBA to support churches to realise the potential of their buildings. Our workshop focused on the power of design, sharing stories from groups that have transformed their buildings and introducing tools to help develop a clear vision and lead an inclusive design process that engages and unlocks local skills, assets and partnerships.
How great design can unlock the potential of churches with the Church Buildings Renewal Trust (CBRT), Glasgow:
This workshop, organised in partnership with the CBRT in March 2018, aimed to help participants explore how great design can unlock the potential of their historic churches - for their congregations and for the benefit of the wider community. Bringing together people involved in looking after churches as well as professionals from CBRT's network, the workshop proved a valuable space for participants to gain new skills and tools and hear different perspectives on how to create a sustainable future for historic places of worship in Scotland.
Exploring challenges, assets and opportunities at Lumen Church in London:
The aim of this one-day workshop held at Lumen United Reformed Church in November 2015, was to help participants reflect on their assets, challenges and opportunities, as well as share experiences, learn from other projects and get a taste of some of the activities used in our project to support people to engage in design. The workshop was attended by representatives from eight churches across the UK, as well as professionals working in the area. The eight churches were: Holy Trinity, Gee Cross ; St. John of Jerusalem, Hackney ; All Saints, Hanley ;
St. Michael & All Angels, Mottram ; Bennington Community Heritage Trust (All Saints, Bennington) ; Church of the Holy Evangelist, Normacot ; St. John's United Reformed Church, Stourbridge ; Christ Church Bexleyheath.
Exploring challenges, assets and opportunities at the Diocese of Ely:
This workshop, held at the Ely Cathedral Conference Centre in July 2017, was similar to the workshop at Lumen, but involved churches who shared common issues due to their geographical location. The participants represented seven churches from the Diocese of Ely: All Saints, St. Ives ; All Saints Wretton ; St. Andrew's, Cherry Hinton ; St. Clement's, Cambridge ; St. Mary's, Wisbech St Mary; St. John's, March ; St. John the Baptist, Holywell ; as well as as one church from Northumberland, Great Bavington United Reformed Church. The workshop was organised in partnership with Geoffrey Hunter, Church Buildings Consultant at the Diocese of Ely.
Engaging communities in design decision-making, Birmingham
This workshop was held at Carrs Lane in Birmingham on the 30th of April 2019. The workshop aimed to explore the meaning and value of community engagement in design, and provide practical advice on how to engage and work with others in order to unlock the potential of historic religious buildings and inform design decision making. Participants were able to hear from two case studies St Luke's Church in Oxford and Graylingwell Chapel in Chichester as well as take part in group-work to explore community engagement strategies and tools. The workshop was attended by a mix of people from different backgrounds, including community members as well as support and development officers, funders, and academics.
Themed workshops held to date include:
How great design can unlock the potential of churches with the Yorkshire Baptist Association (YBA), Sheffield:
A design engagement workshop in July 2018 organised in partnership with the Yorkshire Baptist Association as part of a series of training opportunities offered by YBA to support churches to realise the potential of their buildings. Our workshop focused on the power of design, sharing stories from groups that have transformed their buildings and introducing tools to help develop a clear vision and lead an inclusive design process that engages and unlocks local skills, assets and partnerships.
How great design can unlock the potential of churches with the Church Buildings Renewal Trust (CBRT), Glasgow:
This workshop, organised in partnership with the CBRT in March 2018, aimed to help participants explore how great design can unlock the potential of their historic churches - for their congregations and for the benefit of the wider community. Bringing together people involved in looking after churches as well as professionals from CBRT's network, the workshop proved a valuable space for participants to gain new skills and tools and hear different perspectives on how to create a sustainable future for historic places of worship in Scotland.
Exploring challenges, assets and opportunities at Lumen Church in London:
The aim of this one-day workshop held at Lumen United Reformed Church in November 2015, was to help participants reflect on their assets, challenges and opportunities, as well as share experiences, learn from other projects and get a taste of some of the activities used in our project to support people to engage in design. The workshop was attended by representatives from eight churches across the UK, as well as professionals working in the area. The eight churches were: Holy Trinity, Gee Cross ; St. John of Jerusalem, Hackney ; All Saints, Hanley ;
St. Michael & All Angels, Mottram ; Bennington Community Heritage Trust (All Saints, Bennington) ; Church of the Holy Evangelist, Normacot ; St. John's United Reformed Church, Stourbridge ; Christ Church Bexleyheath.
Exploring challenges, assets and opportunities at the Diocese of Ely:
This workshop, held at the Ely Cathedral Conference Centre in July 2017, was similar to the workshop at Lumen, but involved churches who shared common issues due to their geographical location. The participants represented seven churches from the Diocese of Ely: All Saints, St. Ives ; All Saints Wretton ; St. Andrew's, Cherry Hinton ; St. Clement's, Cambridge ; St. Mary's, Wisbech St Mary; St. John's, March ; St. John the Baptist, Holywell ; as well as as one church from Northumberland, Great Bavington United Reformed Church. The workshop was organised in partnership with Geoffrey Hunter, Church Buildings Consultant at the Diocese of Ely.
Engaging communities in design decision-making, Birmingham
This workshop was held at Carrs Lane in Birmingham on the 30th of April 2019. The workshop aimed to explore the meaning and value of community engagement in design, and provide practical advice on how to engage and work with others in order to unlock the potential of historic religious buildings and inform design decision making. Participants were able to hear from two case studies St Luke's Church in Oxford and Graylingwell Chapel in Chichester as well as take part in group-work to explore community engagement strategies and tools. The workshop was attended by a mix of people from different backgrounds, including community members as well as support and development officers, funders, and academics.
Read more on our blog:
Engaging communities in design decision-making by Katerina Alexiou
Design engagement workshop with the Yorkshire Baptist Association by Vera Hale and Ann Chesworth
Engaging in the design process: workshop with the Church Buildings Renewal Trust by Colin McNeish
Exploring assets, challenges and opportunities with churches at the Diocese of Ely by Dr Katerina Alexiou
Engaging communities in design decision-making by Katerina Alexiou
Design engagement workshop with the Yorkshire Baptist Association by Vera Hale and Ann Chesworth
Engaging in the design process: workshop with the Church Buildings Renewal Trust by Colin McNeish
Exploring assets, challenges and opportunities with churches at the Diocese of Ely by Dr Katerina Alexiou