‘Opening Doors’ is an exciting project that will enable us to bring our church building into line with our vision to be ‘a kingdom community welcoming all in Jesus’ name, growing together as his disciples and stepping out into God’s mission to all nations’.

This vision is rooted in God’s love for us and our desire to share this love in practical and creative ways, starting with our local neighbourhood. It happens firstly through the people God gives us. But it is also made possible thanks to a church building that combines old and new to marvellous effect.

Built in 1829 and situated prominantly on Addison Road, the St Barnabas church building has developed over time to provide a beautiful and flexible space for worship, alongside the many activities aimed at children and youth, serving those in need, valuing music and the arts, celebrating cultural diversity. It is a wonderful asset for the whole local community.

However, practical aspects of the building prevent us today from using it to its full potential: the steps are a barrier to many, our heating is costly and outdated, and our historic organ is in urgent need of repair. 

This building project is our response to this urgent need.

Over the next year, new energy-efficient heating will be installed, the organ will be rebuilt and step-free access will be provided to all levels of the church. These much-anticipated works will release our building to be used to its full potential for both worship and witness.

This is why we have entitled the project ‘Opening Doors’. It will enable us to open the doors of our building to all, but also the doors of opportunity to reach out to those around with the love of Jesus.

Access for all

Our dream at St Barnabas is to open the doors to all, whatever ability or age. New ramp access on the north side of the church will make the church accessible to all and will provide an enhanced entrance from Addison Road. Inside the building, an internal lift down to the crypt meeting rooms, together with stair-lift into the Howard Hall, will finally provide step-free access for all!  These exciting works will really open the doors to all those wanting to be a part of the St Barnabas community.

UPDATE: The building works began in the first week of October 2024! See below for updates as the work progresses…

Carbon-neutral Heating

We have a unique opportunity here to bring our church building into the 21st Century! The project gives an exciting opportunity to install heating in the church that is both more efficient and more respectful of the environment. Firstly, radiators will be installed behind the pews and later, in the chancel and galleries. In a phased process to get to net zero, we will be installing air source heat pumps in the near future to provide power for the whole heating system, but it will initially be powered by a gas boiler.

Organ restoration

Our fine 1856 JW Walker pipe organ, which is part of the fabric of the church and is used for worship every week, has not been refurbished for nearly 90 years and is in urgent need of a rebuild. Its restoration is part of our wider vision to use music and the creative arts that have long defined our local neighbourhood as a springboard for mission. The work will be undertaken by Nicholson Organ and will take approximately 8 months to complete. It will include taking the organ apart and restoring it to its former glory, both in terms of sound and looks. It is wonderful that much of the cost for this has already been raised by generous donations.

UPDATE: Below are some photos of the restoration process. To see more images, go to https://www.nicholsonorgans.co.uk/pf/kensington-st-barnabas/

Thanks in particular to those who have provided grants towards this project: Olympia Trust; Benefact Trust; Beatrice Laing Trust, Matthews Wrightson Trust.