HPA Assist In Adding St Paul’s Church, Scotforth To Heritage At Risk Register
For over a decade, HPA Architects have served as the church’s architect, delivering quinquennial inspections, roof investigations, and leading emergency repairs to the tower. Our role has been pivotal in supporting the church in caring for and managing the building.
HPA have supported St Paul’s in its successful application to join the Heritage at Risk Register. These steps hope to raise the profile of the church and unlock access to vital funding streams, including Heritage grants, ensuring that conservation work aligns with national heritage standards.
As the church surpasses its 150-year-old birthday, a number of significant features are coming to the end of their life and require replacement.
A Landmark of Architectural Experimentation
St Paul’s Church, Scotforth, stands as one of Lancaster’s most distinctive ecclesiastical buildings. Designed in 1874 by Edmund Sharpe, a renowned local architect and engineer, the church is celebrated as the last of Sharpe’s three experimental “pot churches,” so named for their innovative use of terracotta alongside traditional stonework. At a time when Gothic Revival dominated architectural taste, Sharpe boldly embraced a Neo-Norman Romanesque style, creating what architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner described as “a strange building, an anachronism, almost beyond belief.”
The church’s Grade II listing reflects its architectural and historical significance. Its fabric embodies moderate-to-high evidential value, preserving Sharpe’s vision and the craftsmanship of the late Victorian period. Later additions by Paley and Austin in 1891 extended the nave and introduced transepts, yet the building remains largely unaltered, retaining its original character and layout.
Why Heritage at Risk?
Despite its beauty and cultural importance, St Paul’s faces serious challenges. Years of water ingress and roof deterioration have left the building vulnerable. Historic England now lists the church as “Condition: Poor, Vulnerability: High, Trend: Declining”, placing it in Priority A – immediate risk of further rapid deterioration without an agreed solution.
The estimated cost of essential repairs, including complete roof replacement and structural conservation, exceeds £560,000, with additional works to the chancel tower and apse pushing the total beyond £825,000. Fundraising efforts have been ongoing, and congregation numbers are exceeding national trends, but the scale of work requires significant external support.
Community and Future Vision
St Paul’s is more than an architectural gem – it is a living parish at the heart of Scotforth, and the congregation continues to rally behind plans for restoration. Proposed works include:
- Full reroofing and structural stabilisation.
- Window repairs and interior redecoration.
- Sustainable upgrades such as PV panels.
These efforts aim not only to preserve the building but to enhance its role as a vibrant community hub for worship, music, and outreach.
St Paul’s Church embodies a unique chapter in Lancashire’s architectural history – a testament to Sharpe’s experimental spirit and the enduring faith of its parish. Securing its future through the Heritage at Risk program is not just about saving bricks and mortar; it is about safeguarding a cultural legacy, and a busy family community church, for generations to come.
Call to Action
To learn more or support the restoration campaign, visit St Paul’s, Scotforth Fundraising page here https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/lancaster-landmark-tower-appeal-71250-prayers
