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Roofing & Cladding

Wollaston Baptist Church, Wellingborough

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7000 Moorland fibre cement slates from Cembrit have been used in the building of a brand new place of worship in Northamptonshire. Located on the site of the original Wollaston Baptist Church, the new building features black Moorland slates to provide contemporary performance and style. Similar to the appearance of natural slate, Moorland has a smooth surface with authentic dressed edges that lend themselves to all manner of prestigious applications.

The church is located in Wellingborough, Northampton, and has undergone an extensive refurbishment, costing over £1.1million. The church has an active and thriving congregation and holds weekly activities; however these were constricted by the small and inflexible, existing building. JBKS Architects created a well-designed plan to demolish the existing church buildings and construct one new church building in its place.

The original church building dates to 1835 and great care was taken in demolishing the old structures to erect the new one. A key factor was the effect the new building could have on the surrounding area, and the design was carefully considered to minimise any impact. The existing church was a domineering building, that portrayed a feeling of importance and solemnity, which was unsuitable in the village setting. In contrast the new church has a smart and welcoming appearance that complements the neighbouring houses. The Moorland slates fit perfectly with the village surroundings and a glazed skylight over the sanctuary has added definition to the roofline.

“The rebuild of the church was a long and arduous task, but it has been completely worth it,” says Reverend Michael Hogg. “It was important that the building was in harmony with the village and met the needs of the congregation and the community. We are extremely happy with the new building and with the finish provided by Cembrit’s Moorland slates. They fit perfectly with the local buildings and they complement the church’s exterior nicely.”

Although churches are exempt from Part L2 of the Building Regulations, the design of the church complies with all of the relevant standards. Access for elderly and disabled visitors influenced the design of the new building greatly and has led to a site that is accessible to all.

They are manufactured to the highest European standards and are lightweight, pre-holed, suitable for all types of projects, easy to handle and install, durable and an economic alternative to natural roofing materials. Moorland slates are manufactured using Portland cement together with a non-asbestos formulation of superior blended synthetic and cellulose fibres. They are finished with a high quality, semi-matt acrylic coloured coating to the top face and edges and a tinted, high performance binder to the back face.

Moorland slates are manufactured in accordance with a quality assurance system to BS EN ISO 9001: 2000 and to the requirements of BS EN 492: 2004 product specification for fibre cement slates and their fittings. The slate has been awarded the BBA Certificate No. 03/4041. Moorland slates are manufactured in a factory which complies with the requirements of BS EN ISO 14001: 2004, and has been awarded BV certification, no. 11000072.

www.cembrit.co.uk