Borstal Baptist Church

This late Victorian gothic style church in the Medway valley was constructed in knapped flint and soft red brick, with a clay tiled roof and crested ridge and finials. The 2-storey linked extension made use of the steep hillside site to provide a new kitchen, toilets and meeting rooms, including the original basement storey below pavement level. Wrapping round the original building, it provides a vestry and focal point baptistry. Robin Kent Architecture & Conservation's design made the new work subservient to the original church building and was constructed in sympathetic traditional materials, timber, brick and clay roof tiles. A new seat was also designed for the local bus stop as a small expression of Christian care for the community which the church serves in many intangible ways, while the spacious new entrance area has a glazed screen wall to provide welcoming views of the interior, with paving and steps to 'invite' visitors inside.