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Wadhurst Church
New Heating and Re-Ordering
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Set within the village heart, Wadhurst Church had long been a place of gathering, its walls shaped by centuries of worship, its fabric adapted carefully as needs changed and generations passed through its doors. Like many historic churches, it carried the quiet challenge of remaining welcoming and functional without surrendering the character that made it endure.
When the time came to rethink how the building was heated and supported, the task was entrusted to DBR Limited, through its southern division, DBR Southern. The brief was clear: modernise with care, intervene with restraint, and allow the church to continue its life without losing its voice.
Client
The Pcc of the Church of St Peter & St Paul, Wadhurst
Dates
March 2025
—
May 2026
Location
Sussex
Grade listing
Grade I
Fabric
Timber
Architects
Andy Burrell Architecture
Ear Sheppard Consulting Civil & Structural Engineers Ltd
A Strategy Beneath the Surface
At the centre of the project was a revised heating strategy, one that looked forward while respecting the building’s past. New heat pumps were introduced as part of this approach, offering a more efficient and sustainable means of warming the church. These installations were governed by dedicated mechanical and electrical performance specifications, with suitably qualified specialist M&E contractors appointed to design, install, and commission the systems in full.
The technology itself was modern, but its integration was anything but careless.
Making Space for the Future
To accommodate the new heating plant, attention turned to the existing plant room. Its structure was carefully altered and extended, rebuilt with precision to house the upgraded equipment. This work required coordination between heritage awareness and construction expertise, ensuring that new interventions sat comfortably alongside the old.
Externally, associated groundworks and service routes were formed to support the new systems, threaded discreetly through the site so that function did not overwhelm setting.
Warming the Church from the Ground Up
Inside the church, one of the most significant transformations took place beneath the congregation’s feet. The floor within the main body of the church was carefully raised to allow for the installation of a new underfloor heating system. This approach offered even, gentle warmth, well suited to historic interiors while minimising visual intrusion and protecting sensitive fabric.
Each layer was considered, each junction resolved with an understanding that the floor was as much a historic surface as it was a technical one.
Reopening a Lost Threshold
As part of the internal works, the long-blocked north door was reopened. Infill materials were carefully removed, revealing an entrance that had once played a role in the church’s circulation and symbolism. Conservation repairs followed, stabilising the opening and restoring its presence without forcing it to appear new.
Additional internal works were carried out as required, allowing the various interventions, heating, access, and structure to work together as a coherent whole.
Recognised conservation practice guided every decision, allowing modern systems to support rather than disrupt the church’s long life. The completed works restored warmth, reopened thresholds, and enhanced comfort while preserving Wadhurst Church’s spirit, proving that historic buildings can adapt when change is handled with care.
