CSA Architects

King Charles the Martyr Church, Falmouth

Csa-Architects have been working with the KCM Church for a number of years to assist them with a project to change the bell hanging, improve disabled access, provide toilet facilities and improve access to the gallery.
The Church Building is a grade 2 star listed building and the sensitive scheme needed approval from the DAC (Diocese Approval Committee) and English Heritage.
The "KCM Access project" will be delivered in three stages. 1. Access to the church. There are some steep steps at the front of our church from Church Street and the approach from New Street still involves three steps to get to the church forecourt. This is a problem for young mums with pushchairs as well as for the elderly and infirm. The solution is a disabled platform lift inside the West door at the base of the church tower. This will provide improved access into the church from New Street with no steps. 2. Access to facilities. Currently the clergy vestry is used for access for toilets, which is inconvenient to the church and the public. New toilet facilities, which are accessible to disabled wheelchair users, are planned at the base of the tower near the proposed new entrance at the West door. 3. Access to the Bells. At present access to the Gallery and the bell tower is very difficult up a narrow stairway. The new proposal includes a new spiral staircase to the gallery for easier access. Children from King Charles Primary School have designed the artwork for the stairway panels on the theme of the creation under the supervision of a professional glass artist. The bells are currently rung via a clarion system. They will be adapted for change ringing and placed in new frames. This will strengthen the tower. There will be a new ringing chamber at gallery level. The church has started to recruit a new team of Bell ringers for the new 8 Bells.
Budget Costing for the scheme is now completed and the fundraising appeal is about to start. Construction for the first phase is anticipated to commence within the next 1-2 years