Developed in close consultation with the client, St Peter’s Stonegrove combines a church, community centre and nursery within one building, creating a new and vibrant hub for a 1,000 home regeneration of the Stonegrove Estate.
The main entrance is characterised by large timber louvres, positioned so that on 29 June each year - St Peter’s Day - sunlight fully enters through the church window. Gabion walls wrap around worship spaces and rise to form a bell tower; a physical metaphor of the church’s strong community embrace. Lightweight Fibreline composite panels clad the adjoining community centre and nursery.
A parabolic latticed glulam timber canopy unifies the three distinct zones under one roof, and provides a warm and atmospheric quality. Inside, a central corridor allows each zone to function independently. A lively café and community centre opens onto an external area providing the ability to host a variety of events throughout the year. The main worship hall accommodates up to 160 worshippers and contains no fixed furnishings or iconography, allowing the Edgeware Parish Team to share their space with other denominations. Accessed externally by a playful ‘fort’ like set of timber stairs, a bright and spacious nursery occupies the first floor.
Newly landscaped green space provides an attractive and safe place for the community to congregate, rest and play.
Since opening in July 2016 the congregation has grown significantly. Multiple organisations now occupy the building, demonstrating the social value of the church and the breadth of the community that uses the facilities.