Upon a local assessment by the PCC, it was revealed that the village’s parish church could be of greater assistance to its congregation and the wider community if an alternative, inexpensive place for people to meet and socialise would be created within its walls. On that basis, the Community Café project was born.
The building is a Grade II listed set in the heart of the village and within the Hersham Village Conservation Area. It was designed in 1887 by the Gothic Revival architect John Loughborough Pearson as a medium‐sized parish church built of Bath and Bargate stone and local Claygate on the inside. It presents a four bay nave arcade on round piers, three bay chancel, organ chamber and porch to south, and an entrance hall under the bell tower through a north porch.
The scope of the project embraced the creation of a café area, a fully equipped kitchen with a serving bar, wheelchair user and ambulant disabled toilets, easy disabled use and access throughout, as well as the improvement of the food bank service and storage. This scheme was to be developed in a sensitive, holistic and sympathetic manner focusing on a flexible and pragmatic approach to the incorporation of all possible disability adaptations, while not to harm the heritage significance of the historic fabric, nor to affect the character of the church in its religious worship activity.
JaM were appointed to lead the project from inception to completion with the intent to adapt and improve all the west end of the building. Working closely with the PCC, JaM created and detailed the design of the Community Café, including bespoke furniture; advised on Building Regulations’ requirements looking at the constraints and opportunities of the historic church; developed accessibility plans based on the Access Audit Method; and established principles of reversibility and future adaptive strategies.
Once provided with a cost estimate, the PCC is now working to secure financial support through fundraising and grants. Sequentially, JaM will develop the necessary documentation for a Faculty and Listed Building Consent applications, produce the required information for Building Control approval, coordinate the tender process, and carry on administering the building contract.
