For many Christians, like those of us at JBKS Architects, their faith is the rock of stability during this pandemic and the lockdowns, like a building’s foundations. The question is, is it stable enough, or is it shaking?

Whilst many churches across England have opened their doors for prayer, many churches are still live-streaming their services on social media for those self-isolating or high-risk.

St Pauls’ church, Slough is a very large Victorian style 20th century church built in the residential suburbs of the town. It is enormously high and was so hard to heat that in the 1960s a flat roofed interior structure was built to provide a smaller, easier to heat hall, entirely within the west end of the church.

Whatever church means to you and however you picture it in your mind, the fact is that churches are important to a lot of people. But why?

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government recognises that there are significant mental-health benefits for people being able to pray in their place of worship which for some people, cannot be replicated by praying at home.

The last few months have been a difficult time for everyone whilst we are all adjusting to a different way of living. During this period, the degree of care and concern amongst communities has increased along with an increase in the level of prayer for others. Despite the negatives and the difficulties faced during this unprecedented situation, there are still positives we can draw from this.