Interior of a historic church with wooden pews, stained glass windows, an organ at the front, and natural light streaming in.

Dovedale Baptist Church

Reviving a landmark for worship and community use

Harrison Stringfellow Architects are working with Cornerstone Collective to help bring Dovedale Baptist Church back into active use as a vibrant place of worship and community life.

Empty since its final service in 2018, this striking Grade II-listed church has been slowly deteriorating due to water ingress. Set within a dense residential neighbourhood, the flint-covered exterior stands in bold contrast to the surrounding 1920s brick terraces, a rare and distinctive architectural presence in Liverpool.

To sensitively restore and adapt the Grade II-listed Dovedale Baptist Church in south Liverpool. Vacant since 2018, the church is undergoing essential repairs to address water ingress and protect its distinctive historic fabric. The project will focus on safeguarding and restoring the historic fabric, while sensitively adapting the church to meet modern needs. Key upgrades will address accessibility, servicing, energy efficiency, and spatial flexibility, ensuring the building can thrive for the next century. The aim is to welcome more people from the local community, particularly families and young people, through parent and toddler groups, kids clubs, youth meetups, and inclusive outreach initiatives.

The project reimagines the building as a fully accessible, energy-efficient space for modern worship and wider community use. Proposals include low-carbon heating, improved WC provision, and integrated AV systems, as well as flexible spaces for children’s activities, outreach initiatives, and events. The adjacent church hall, originally built as a school, will become a hub for both church and community use. With flexible spaces, dedicated children's areas, and practical support functions, supporting Cornerstone’s growing congregation and strengthening local community ties for generations to come.

The facade of a church building with large stained glass windows and a triangular roof, topped with a decorative cross and a white bird, against a bright blue sky with some clouds.
Black and white illustration of a historic Gothic-style church with multiple tall steeples, large arched windows, and a group of people walking outside.
Black and white photo of a wide street in a city with buildings on both sides, trees along the sidewalks, and a few people walking in the middle of the street. A tall clock tower is visible in the background.
A detailed architectural plan of a church renovation project, showing new timber framing, glazed timber paneling, and demolition of existing blockwork wall to add columns and accessible entry points, with annotations explaining design features.

Options for new insertions to help with accessibility

Architectural diagram of a church extension with annotations describing design features such as timber structure, glazed link, south-facing facade, planting opportunities, and an accessible entrance.
City map with a walking distance guide indicating 10-minute and 20-minute walk zones, with yellow dots representing various locations, and one red area of interest near the center.
An illustrated aerial view of a historic brick building with a garden courtyard, surrounded by trees, residential row houses, and pathways with people walking.

Demographic of Visitors

Early Visual

Related Projects

A brick building with a sign that reads 'Hartley Hatch' on a window, adjacent to a staircase leading to a historic building with domes and a clock tower in the background, under a clear blue sky.

The Hartley Hatch

Forgotten waterfront space turned into ice cream hatch

A historic church with classical architecture, four columns at the entrance, arched windows, and a stained glass window above the door, titled "Iglesia Ni Cristo."

Rylands Hall

Re-establishing a place of worship

Illustration of a brick building with yellow letters spelling 'BRONTE' on top, large windows with green frames and colorful patterned awnings, people outside including women, children, and a man pushing a stroller, bicycle racks, and a woman with a bicycle near a tree and sidewalk.

The Bronte

A sustainable future for a youth centre