Extract from Faringdon United Church Its History. Written to commemorate the Dedication of the New Church, 1st March 1975. Author unknown
The New United Reform Church
In 1975 the Congregational Church and the Methodist Church united to form the Faringdon United Church, moving to a new building adjacent to the former Methodist chapel
There were many constraints affecting the design, such as the
noise from a busy road junction, a difficult vehicular access, the need to
create a modern building in sympathy with the old building, and the shortage of
money arising from increased building costs during the long wait between
inception and tendering.
It was felt that the building, to seat about
150 – 200, should be designed in the nonconformist tradition with simple
lines and without unnecessary embellishment. The building was sited close to
the road, partly for Town Planning reasons, partly for the silent witness of
the building itself, and partly so that the car park could be screened away
behind the buildings. Whilst the design is contemporary, a relationship with
the old building is established by the use of a matching brick and the
presentation of similar proportions through the use of indented buttresses. The
small glazed ‘link’ helps the visual relationship as well as
providing a central circulation point.
The problem of noise was an
important consideration in the design. The separation of the buildings by the
link helps to reduce noise from the existing buildings, and the traffic noise
has been reduced to an acceptable level by the introduction of roof glazing
behind a protective parapet; the use of double glazing; and the use of other
sound-insulating techniques.
The large Greek cross, with its equal
arms, signifies equality and unity in Christ. It is illuminated at night and,
on this busy corner, makes a bold statement to the people of Faringdon and
travellers
