St Mary's: Old Church FAQs

St Mary's Community Arts Centre

Will the appearance of the Old Church be changed?

The view of the Old Church from Church Street will be unchanged. Toilets will be installed in an old storeroom in the corner, but this will be carefully done so as not to impact the historic fabric or affect the appearance from the outside.

The view from Clissold Park will be changed, with the 1950s-built red brick north aisle replaced with a modern construction of the same height clad in English hardwood with a grass roof, that will blend in much better with the ancient stone and the surrounding trees. At the north east corner, where there is currently a 1950s built vestry, there will be a small flat which will extend out at the same level as the existing organ loft.

Will gravestones be moved?

No. The new building will be on the footings of the church as it was before WWII (there churchyard was closed to burials in 1855) and the new path from the church into Clissold Park has been carefully routed to pass between the gravestones. A detailed measured survey of the entire site has been carried out showing the exact location of all the graves.

Why spend so much money on this project? Surely it would be better used for other under-resourced charities that benefit the local population?

The project isn’t taking money away from other local projects, it is attracting money into the borough from the Lottery and other sources. Contributions from local people and businesses are much welcomed, if they choose. The council are not contributing anything.

The Old Church is Grade II* listed (by the government), which means it is considered of historical value and can’t be demolished or radically altered. The parish, which also has the New Church, does not have the income to maintain two Grade II* listed buildings. The choice is whether the Old Church is left unused to slowly fall into disrepair , or whether it is given a new lease of life that will benefit the local community, allow people of all faiths and races to enjoy and appreciate it, and provide a way to fund its ongoing maintenance. The option we have chosen will cost money but it is an investment that will make the Old Church an asset to the local area for many years to come.

Why do the plans show a flat?

The income from renting out a one-bedroom flat above the centre will subsidise community activities in the arts centre so they can be free or low cost. We want the arts centre to be used by all kinds of local people, not only the well-off who already go to concerts etc elsewhere, and we want to employ someone to manage the centre and encourage new groups of people to participate in the arts. Income from a flat will allow us to do this. We have researched other community arts centres and found they are often dependent on grant funding to stay open. Including a flat in the design will help make this one more sustainable.

Have you sought permission from the relevant authorities? Which, and when?

We have submitted a planning application to the London Borough of Hackney, which is currently being considered. We have also applied for permission from the Church of England body responsible for preserving historic buildings.

Have you consulted local residents/ the congregation? Do they really want this?

Last year we carried out extensive consultation in the local area.

A needs assessment was carried out with local people and different groups (e.g. homeless people, young people, park users, local amenity groups, etc.)

The building had hundreds of visitors on Open House weekend, who were shown a model and asked for their opinions and feedback.

Existing user groups were consulted on their requirements.

The church community was consulted.

In addition local schools and various community organisations were asked, as representatives of their communities, what they would like to see.

In total more than 150 responses were received. The common themes drawn from these consultations were used to identify the sorts of activities the community would like to see delivered from the Old Church building in order to meet that need.

The church took part in the recent public consultation week at Clissold House, held a consultation event in September and has consulted local people Stokefest and at via local schools.

How many pews will be removed? Why is this necessary?

The box pews in the nave will be removed to make the space more flexible for concerts, music or drama workshops and other events. The inflexibility and discomfort of the present seating makes it virtually impossible to envisage a scenario in which they can remain, unless the church is converted into a purely historical monument.

The pews are not ‘original’. The church was built in the 16th Century and the pews added in the early 19th century, when the church had many alterations to cope with a growing population. Inspection reveals that they have been cut up and re-arranged since they were installed. We will use some of the removed pews to re-create the historic 19th century family pew arrangement in the South Aisle, the oldest part of the church, as the centrepiece of an educational exhibition that will help visitors, including school parties, to understand and appreciate the history of the building.

Does Stoke Newington need any more community spaces? Is this really necessary?

St Mary’s Church has two community spaces: the Community Centre in Defoe Road and the New Church Rooms. These are much in demand for all kinds of general purposes from meetings to martial arts, and we expect this use to continue. The redevelopment of the Old Church coincides with the development of two new complementary community spaces nearby. There will be small spaces in Clissold House, medium sized space in the church, and a much larger space in the Assembly Rooms.

The Old Church will be different because it will be a beautiful and atmospheric arts venue equipped for performances and exhibitions with a stage, sound and lights, and flexible seating. It will be actively managed, not only welcoming bookings but encouraging use of the building by people who do not use existing cultural venues. Thus it will welcome new audiences and increase the participation of marginalised groups.

Why have you gone for a modern design instead of trying to blend in with the old church?

The architectural history of the Old Church building is one of change in response to changing needs and fashions in church building. Historic pictures show it looks very little like the 19th century church that was built. Parts of the building date from the 19th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. We see the new proposal as a continuation of that, and decided on a contemporary structure that is sensitive and complementary to the historic fabric and its green surroundings.

The new building is designed to appear light and inviting, in contrast to the 1950s building it replaces. The tall narrow windows reference the gothic verticals of the Old Church and allow tall views of the park. The doors on the north side are aligned with the rhythm of the internal arches and clerestory windows of the Old Church.