07 May 2025
This ambitious project has successfully transformed the late-1920s building, elevating its energy rating from an E to an A, the highest category. The building is on track to receive BREEAM 2 Very Good” – a prestigious environmental assessment certification, underscoring its commitment to sustainability.
The extensive refurbishment and retrofitting process of Methodist Church House was led by architects Manalo & White and provides a tailored workspace for the Methodist Church, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing energy efficiency. The building now features new windows with a low U-value, which measures how well a material or structure (like a wall or window) conducts heat. Lower U-values indicate better insulation and less heat loss. Additionally, thirty solar panels and a heat pump have been installed, and only green suppliers are being used to supplement the building's energy needs.
“When we started looking for new premises, we were struck by the potential that this building had. It’s been a long and involved process; the building itself has been pretty much gutted apart from the original features which we were adamant we wanted to keep. We’ve used materials from our previous building whenever possible. The work underlines the Methodist Church in Britain’s commitment to sustainability and I’m delighted we’ve been able to do so much to contribute to our net zero commitment.”
Doug Godfrey-Swanney, the Connexional SecretaryThe refurbishment and retrofitting of the building are part of the ongoing commitment of the Methodist Church to become a net zero carbon emissions church by 2030. This initiative aligns with the broader efforts within the Connexion to promote environmental stewardship. For instance, Chapel-on-le-Frith recently won the Land and Nature award from the Church Times Green Awards 2024, and the Yorkshire North & East District was runner-up in the People’s Energy category at the 2024 Ashden Awards.
Methodist Church House features state-of-the-art video conferencing facilities to enable hybrid meetings, a dedicated studio space for creating online content and flexible, accessible working spaces to meet the needs across the Church.
The new offices also feature the Aldersgate room on the ground floor, which showcases coloured designs by Nicholas Mynheer on its internal window. The stained-glass window illustrates verses from Revelation about the promises of the Kingdom of God. This design is adapted from a previous work by Mynheer for the former offices on Marylebone Road.
The Methodist Church in Britain continues to lead by example in its commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility, through its Action for Hope programme. The new eco-friendly offices on Tavistock Place stand as a testament to the Church's dedication to reducing its carbon footprint and promoting a greener future.
Soon, gardeners will install plants on the roof garden following design by Ollie Pike whose garden at the RHS Tatton Park Show won a Gold Medal in 2024 and was featured on BBC Two’s Gardeners’ World.
