Welsh Slate Roofing - St Martin in the Fields Church, London

The 36million renewal project at London's St Martin's in the Field complex is due for completion in 2008.  The current church building dates back to 1721 and there has been a church on the site since Norman times.

The project aims to create purpose designed spaces to help the work of "The Connection" at St Martin's in the Field to provide support and advice for thousands of homeless people.

The old crypt and burial chambers provided a labyrinth of small rooms but these were impractical for the needs of the church and "The Connection".  The response from Eric Parry Architects, who designed the scheme, was to demolish the old vaults and build spaces on the same site.

By using traditional materials to recreate the original roof, they have combined old and new to preserve the character and heritage of the complex North Building.

The traditional roof that has been installed on the building belies the modern interior beneath.  The roof was specified to ensure a like for like replacement using a mixture of Capital Grade Penrhyn Heather Blue and Ffestiniog Blue Grey 500x300 roofing slates, an exact replica of the original.