FORMAL plans have been lodged for the rebuild of an historic church which was devastated by a fire.
A planning application has been submitted to restore Mudeford All Saints Church “to match the appearance of the building pre-fire”.
Mudeford All Saints became engulfed in flames on the evening of July 14, 2022, following an electrical issue in the building.
The blaze caused huge damage to the roof and interior, and has put the church out of use ever since.
The rebuild project, tabled by The PCC of All Saints Church, consists of a major program of restoration to the church remains, and two extensions.
A new west end porch entrance with ramps and a lift is proposed to “allow the church to be more welcoming and inclusive to all users of the church”.
An extension to the rear is also proposed to provide additional space for activities for worshippers and the wider community.
Under the plans, all the stained-glass windows are to be restored except for the largest window of the church which was located at the west end.
The proposal for this window is for it to be raised to allow for a new opening underneath and commission a new stained-glass window that gives reference to the fire.
Mudeford All Saints Church wants the rebuild to “respect the church’s remaining heritage, while building for the future, creating a church which is a modern and attractive place to worship”.
A design and access statement, prepared by Clews Architects on behalf of the church, said: “The fire is an opportunity for the church to make improvements to better suit their needs in terms of accessibility, sustainability and their mission within the community.
“The church has also taken the opportunity to improve the environmental credentials of the church with improved insulation where possible and the introduction of renewables.
“The proposals are sensitive to the original church and the materials have been carefully chosen to be in keeping with the church.”
A decision is yet to be made on the planning application, and it will remain open for public consultation until May 3, 2024.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel