Grade One-listed church is latest masterpiece in heating company’s portfolio

The Church of St Lawrence in North Wingfield, Derbyshire, is a Grade One-listed building, part of which dates from the 12th century – although mention is made in the Domesday Book of a church and priest there.

Most of the current building dates from the 14th and 15th centuries – a major feature is the massive tower that was built around 1450. Inside the church are the three 14th-century reliefs for which the church is noted: The Martyrdom of St Lawrence, at the east end of the south aisle, The Annunciation and Christ in Majesty with the Virgin and Angels in the vestry (formerly the north chapel).

St Lawrence’s underwent major restorations in the 19th century: in 1860 the south side aisle was restored, followed in 1872 by the north side.

Alongside its historic provenance, the church is a thriving and functioning Christian community and as such has the need to offer a welcoming environment. This summer that includes upgrading and modernising its heating system. Historic buildings such as St Lawrence’s require specialist expertise and skills in the installation of heating systems to provide the correct type of heating to preserve their fabric, and to avoid compromising the architecture.

Such a contractor was found in Stoke-on-Trent company Mellor and Mottram, who specialise in the installation of heating systems in churches and have many years experience with listed buildings.

Mellor and Mottram began the installation of the new boilers and the upgrading of the radiators in July. The new system comprises two Remora Quinta Ace 55 boilers, together with the extension of the radiator system. Additional radiators are also being added to the system, which will be controlled via Mellor and Mottram’s state-of-the-art control system.

Another on-going project for the team at Mellor and Mottram is at the Methodist church in Barrow-on-Soar, near Loughborough in Leicestershire. The team has been on site there since May, installing a comprehensive new system as part of the church’s renovation.

The system is creating five heating ‘zones’ in different parts of the building. The ‘wet’ system has radiators heated by two new Remora boilers, while the reception area and main worship area are heated by Dunham Bush convector heaters.

In the hall the radiators are Stelrad Standard low surface-temperature radiators (left). They have been installed for safety reasons, because the hall is used by a pre-school group. The installation follows OFTEC requirements.

The new heating forms part of the church’s long-term project to open up its premises to a larger community, offer access to people with all kinds of disabilities and allow more flexible forms of worship.

For over 40 years Mellor and Mottram has been offering its design and installation service for churches throughout the UK – in some cases to more than one generation of clergy! Whether a church is a Grade One-listed medieval building, a Victorian chapel or a modern city-centre church, Mellor and Mottram are sure to have a solution to their heating requirements.

Right from the survey stage Mellor and Mottram will guide the customer through the whole process of installation.

The range of church heating systems installed by the copmany is as varied as the churches themselves. In some cases the project may involve just the replacement of a boiler utilising existing pipework that is in perfectly good order. In others the entire church heating system needs to be replaced. In some churches the heating system needs sophisticated controls to ensure energy-efficient operation.

Options include traditional wet systems with slow surface-temperature radiators, gas-powered warm air systems, fan convectors or renewable heating systems utilising ground or air source pumps.

To date the company has installed more than 600 systems in churches. That experience has enabled them to develop a similar expertise in the provision of systems for other ancient and listed buildings – from Grade One-listed medieval castles to privately owned residences.

For further information visit www.mellorandmottram.co.uk