The Grade II listed Christ Church New Southgate and Friern Barnet Baptist/United Reformed Church building will become a modern, eco-conscious facility writes minister Ruth Moriarty

Ten people, some wearing hard hats and hi viz, standing in front on a church. A woman standing in the middle of the group holds a spade. — Left to right: Alex Jackson (Glanville), Nagin Karsan (Ash), Ahmed Abdulkareem (Ash), Daniel Almond (CPL), Matthew Cox (Ash), Ruth Moriarty (Baptist), David Skipp (URC), Andrew Mills (URC), Francis Mudford (Baptist), Andy Moulding (Lester Partnership)

Work has officially commenced on a transformative £3.4 million building project at Christ Church New Southgate and Friern Barnet Baptist/United Reformed Church (URC), a historic church site on Friern Barnet Road, N11.

The extensive scheme will revitalise the Grade II listed landmark, creating a modern, eco-conscious facility designed to serve the entire local community.

The project features a total renovation of the existing hall alongside the creation of several new high specification facilities, including a small hall, versatile meeting rooms, a welcoming foyer, and a new courtyard garden. By physically connecting the hall and the church, the development will establish a unified, secure and completely accessible site for all visitors.

The hall was built in 1883 and the church in 1911 designed by George Baines in an art nouveau style. It is notable for the blue plaque commemorating the first minister Rev Benjamin Waugh who also founded the NSPCC. The project prioritises sensitive restoration, skilled workers will restore the original stonework and brickwork, as well as the signature wooden lantern situated in the centre of the roof.

In a significant move toward environmental responsibility, the site is being redeveloped with a focus on green infrastructure. Modern upgrades include the use of renewable energy; installation of air-source heat pumps, comprehensive insulation and solar panels, effective water management; implementation of new sustainable waste-water systems and site wide accessibility; comprehensive landscaping to provide step-free access to the church’s main doors while preserving the site’s mature trees.

At the breaking ground ceremony on 18th March, I said: “We pray our church will be place of blessing in our community as a sign of God’s justice and peace to all.”

Christ Church is a Baptist and URC partnership which merged from two churches to become one in 1994.

The development project was funded by the sale of a Baptist church site; Grove Road hall in New Southgate and generous grants from Thames North Trust URC. Church architects CPL and Ash Contracting are completing the works over the next year.

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