26
BCD SPECIAL REPORT ON
HISTORIC CHURCHES
21ST ANNUAL EDITION
glass which would allow an unhindered view
of the nave. To reduce noise transmission, the
screens were fixed into channels in the floor
and the ceiling above and stepped back from
the columns, creating a continuous wall of
glass without any gaps. The use of acoustic
glass, which is laminated with an acoustic
interlayer, further reduced both transmitted
and reflected sound, contributing to a quiet
and private environment. Due to the height
of the screen it was necessary to fit stabilising
fins on the panels (facing page, top right)
which were also manufactured from glass,
ensuring there was nothing to interfere with
the minimal appearance of the structure.
Moving an original metal screen
from the rear of the church to the front
of the new meeting rooms retained the
style of the Arts and Crafts movement,
combined with a motif applied to the glass
that replicated the one on the screen.
MINIMISING HEAT LOSS
Heating the church of St Nicolas at
Great Bookham had become a significant
drain on resources. The church, which dates
back to the 11th century, is an archetypical
village church that had evolved over the
centuries but had not seen any significant
improvements for many years.
The combination of heat loss up the ancient
(and little used) west tower and draughts from
the wooden doors meant that the congregation
had become used to feeling the chill in winter.
Ion Glass was engaged to install
a screen across the width of the nave,
combined with a glass door to sit inside
the existing wooden entrance door.
Keeping the visual impact of the screen to
the absolute minimum involved a technically
difficult construction using vertical glass fins
to stabilise the multi-panel construction of the
arch. The decision was taken to fix the panels
of glass to the ancient stonework by using a
series of stainless steel clamps in preference
to a continuous metal channel. This approach
minimised the impact on the ancient fabric
of the walls and was less intrusive visually.
The glass door which is set into the screen
is over a metre wide, allowing easy access
for wheelchair users and for pall-bearers
during funeral services. An impressive three
metres in height, the door had to be fixed
into an over-sized floor spring cut into the
original stone floor, and bespoke fixings
were manufactured to take the weight and
provide lateral stability while at the same
time offering minimal visual impact.
Use of a laser distance measurer and
contour gauge ensured that the screen fits
closely around the exact shape of every corbel
and is sealed to minimise heat loss. The screen
also minimises the acoustic intrusion of the
bells during services. Because the external door
in the west tower is now in regular use as the
main access to the church, parishioners can also
enjoy the full glory of the aisle, stained glass
windows and altar as they enter the building.
GLASS BALUSTRADES
Incorporating a mezzanine floor or gallery area
can significantly increase floor space while the
addition of a glass balustrade lets light in and
maximises the visibility of original features.
Various glass balustrade systems are
available with a range of options regarding
fixings. Choosing the right system for a
particular church requires careful consideration
of the relevant design aesthetic, construction
and cost constraints. Both curved and straight
glass panels can be incorporated and the
panels can be cut to fit around stonework,
out-of-true walls and arches. It is also
possible to make the balustrade frameless,
avoiding the visual distraction of a handrail.
The balustrade installed recently at
St Andrew Undershaft in the City of London
is constructed from 21.5mm toughened
laminate glass, bolted to the substrate of
the gallery floor using a bespoke system.
A single row of stainless steel bolts across
the front edge of the gallery helps to create a
clean, stylish finish while a white film applied
directly to the glass masks the unfinished
edge of the floor. With curved panels at
either end it provides an elegant sweep of
glass across the whole width of the gallery.
With no visible clamps, posts or handrail,
the installation is deceptively simple but remains
fully compliant with the relevant building
regulations. The design ensures that people
Precision detailing at St Clement’s Church, Hastings
The use of highly accurate measurement and cutting
tools allows a close fit where structural glass elements
need to follow the contours of the original fabric
