St James in the City

Client: Rev’d Neil Short

Location: Toxteth, Liverpool

Budget: £500,000

Status: Completed 2013

The Grade II* listed Georgian Church of St James is a prominent feature on the Liverpool riverfront close to the Anglican Cathedral.  After falling into disuse in the mid nineties and suffering various vandalism attacks including arson, the church was declared redundant and transferred to the Churches Conservation Trust.  They undertook various remedial measures aimed at bringing the building back to life with an alternative community use before this failed and the building was returned to the Diocese in 2009.  St James in the City, as it is now known, has been established as a new thriving and burgeoning place of worship with great popularity amongst University students and the recent increase in the inner city population.  The community worship within marquees set up within the Nave and Chancel and a safety net stretched across the former balcony level provides protection from falling plaster.

In 2011, FPL undertook a phase of emergency safeguarding repairs at the church to keep water out and to prop several of the main roof trusses which were on verge of collapsing due to rot and decay.

In spring 2012 a major phase of restoration took place, completely removing the Nave and Chancel roofs, repairing the roof trusses with a contemporary stainless steel tensioning system, and introducing a new insulated slate roof under-drawn with lime plaster and lath ceilings. FPL designed improved detailed parapet gutters, flashings and rain water disposal systems completed the weather tight enveloping.

FPL have recently been successful in applying for HLF grant funding for urgent gallery structural and timber repair work.

FPL are continuing to assist St James and presently we are working alongside English Heritage to develop the proposal for a multi-million pound HLF bid to provide a heritage centre and community facility.

• Categories: Listed Buildings and Conservation