Dow Jones Architects

Phase 1 – Refurbishment and Restoration of St Patrick’s Church

The project's overarching ambition is to make St Patrick's more inclusive, accessible, sustainable, and welcoming to the wider community.

St Patrick's Church was built in 1879 and is a Grade II listed building. The church was designed by architect Francis Tasker, who was employed by Cardinal Manning, an admirer of Italian art and architecture, and so the new church was built with an exterior in the style of a simple Tuscan Barn, whilst the interior was modelled on the North Italian Renaissance churches of Palladio.

Dow Jones Architects is working with the Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St Patrick's Parish, Wapping, on the first phase of the masterplan for the precinct, which concerns the refurbishment and restoration of the church and its artworks.

The church is a magnificent building but has a rather tired appearance. Years of piecemeal additions and alterations undermine the space's reverence and clarity. Added to this is the ongoing structural problem with the floor, which results in the floor swelling in places and dipping in others.

Reparation works are proposed for the floor as well as the re-organisation of the internal church layout including the reordering of the Sanctuary which has required detailed research and design work to ameliorate the heritage issues and inform the design.

The proposal includes a new lean-to extension along the south façade with provision for a new WC and DWC, plant room, and new confessionals with DDA compliance. Thermal improvements to the existing fabric include options to improve the floor and roof build-up and replace windows with new double-glazed units that reflect the existing window profile pattern.