New state-of-the-art church for Heswall

The Lighthouse Church at Heswall is a contemporary new building, designed by Liverpool-based architects shedkm, providing an outward-focused community space suitable for the wide range of community and outreach services and events that the church already provides.

As well as regular church services, events will include concerts, exhibitions, social gatherings, playgroups and youth activities, dance classes, farmers’ market, counselling and advice services, to name just a few.

Thanks to donations, fundraising and grants, the church themselves have raised funds to allow building work to commence, though a further £400,000 is needed to reach the overall target. 

The new church fills the full depth of the site, with a welcoming front to both ends. A straightforward pitched volume – inspired by the existing ecclesiastical form – encloses a layering of primary spaces, with ancillary functions housed in single-storey linear flanks.

The worship space is at the heart of the building and is reached through a welcoming reception/hospitality space behind the glazed principal high street elevation and a flexible community space positioned at the other end of the building.

The three main spaces are separated by installed objects containing flexible meeting spaces which can be opened up to extend the main spaces. These smaller elements create a layering of uses and spaces visible to the street and a contemporary ecclesiastical identity.

The essence of the proposal is to ‘de-cellularise’ a conventional layout of rooms served by corridors and provide a more flexible and accessible ‘without walls’ arrangement of spaces that flow seamlessly within.

Ian Killick, Director, shedkm , said, “The Lighthouse Church is a state-of-the-art worship space with enhanced community facilities, designed to be simple, usable and deliverable. Working closely with Heswall Parish Parochial Church Council, we will transform the church’s presence on the busy telegraph road and invite passers-by to engage with the activities happening inside.”