St Peter's Church, Dunchurch

Structural Glass Screens

Project

St Peter’s Church, Ion Glass, HB Architects and Symon Construction.

Product

Structural Glass Bell Ringing Chamber, Arched Glass Screen, Glass Doors, Juliette Balconies and Glass Balustrading, Stainless Steel Glass Door Handles, Pivot Hinges.

Overview

The project was to create a new ringing chamber inside the tower using the original floor to form the ceiling of the new room. This room was enclosed by glass to provide acoustic screening without obscuring the original stained glass window. A frameless glass balustrade was installed across the front of the platform, with a further balustrade to protect the stained glass window. Access to the new platform was via a spiral staircase.

A key benefit of the project was to separate the sound of the bells from the music of the organ. The new platform had to be compatible with the original 13th Century stonework of the church, enhancing rather than obscuring the original architecture.

Technical Information

The glass door and screen across the front of the ringing chamber were produced in several sections. A triple panel of Planar glazing fits across the apex of the arch into a bespoke stainless channel that was made to the exact shape of the stonework. The door to the chamber pivots on bespoke stainless hinges between two side screens which are reinforced by structural glass fins to ensure the absolute stability of the installation.

The special bespoke handles on the glass doors were designed and manufactured by Ion Glass to reflect the shape of the arch.

The structural glass balustrade was produced in 15mm toughened glass, resin anchored into bespoke bracketry powder coated in bronze to match the spiral staircase.

With a platform 4 metres above the floor and only accessible by ladder at the time, the 300 kilo panels of glass were lifted into position by a crane – restricted by the proximity of the wooden pews and the need to avoid damage to the fabric of the church.

The structural glass balustrade to protect the stained glass window had to be in a single span with bespoke fixing brackets set into the angled stone reveals of the arched window. The glass balustrade was produced in 21.5mm laminated toughened glass and Ion designed and produced appropriate bracketry to hold the glass securely but unobtrusively.

  • Vicar Malcolm Garratt expressed himself ‘over the moon' with the result and the Bishop of Coventry commented that it was the best installation he has seen in any church both within and outside his Diocese.

    Vicar Malcolm Garratt
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