St Bartholomew's, Bayton

There can surely be no finer setting for a church than that at St Bartholomew's Bayton. This 12th Century church sits gazing out over a most spectacular view across the Shropshire Hills, taking in the twisted spire of Cleobury Mortimer nestled amongst verdant quintessentially English countryside.

Recclesia was contracted to undertake the sensitive upgrade and alteration work to the church, which was completed in two contiguous phases to accommodate protected bats. The first part of the work saw the reroofing of the entire church building using new hand-made tiles over some cleverly integrated bat-friendly insulation, alongside masonry repairs and repointing, joinery repairs, new ceilings, and the installation of new french drains, storm drains, and foul drainage system ready to take the new WC and kitchen.

Internally, the entire nave floor was dug up and new floors with underfloor heating laid down. At the west end, a new accessible WC was installed, alongside kitchen facilities to service church events, the fitting out of the tower vestry, and redecoration using breathable paints throughout.