A renewed church building

View of the newly restored interior of the church © David Lindsay 2007

James Gibbs' 1726 masterpiece has been completely restored for the first time. Floors added by the Victorians above the entrance vestibules have been removed, reinstating their original height and allowing light from the west into the church. The coloured glass windows, put in after the Victorian stained-glass was destroyed by a bomb blast in World War II, has been replaced with clear glass, similar to that in Gibbs' original.

The aim has been to maximise the amount of natural light coming into the church and to bring it closer to the original Baroque design. The glorious decorative plaster work of the ceiling has been restored; the pulpit has been relocated to improve the sight lines for congregation and audiences; and the chancel has been reordered to allow greater flexibility for worship and concerts. The exterior of the church has also been thoroughly cleaned and restored.

The sanctuary of the church has been restored and a new East Window installed © David Lindsay 2008 and Phil Ashley 2007

An access ramp and a lift from the church to the crypt below will provide universal access to the church and Café for the first time. The Renewal Project will also see extensive refurbishment of John Nash's North Range, which encompasses the Vestry Hall and parish offices, Vicarage and The Connection at St Martin's.