March 25, 2026 / By rachel
As part of our 40 projects for 40 years series, we look at a project that highlights our work as a heritage architect, where innovation played a crucial role in securing the future of All Saints Church, Hereford heritage and conservation.
All Saints Church Reordering: The Maverick Vision That Saved a Landmark
This is Week 3 of our 40 projects celebrating 40 years of RRA Architects.
Back in the late 1990s, All Saints Church in Hereford was facing an uncertain future. The Grade I listed building, an architectural gem in the heart of the city, was falling into serious disrepair. Years of neglect had left the structure vulnerable, prompting a Dangerous Structures Notice to be served. The congregation was small, the repair bill was daunting and there was little prospect of raising the necessary funds through traditional means.
It was in this moment of crisis that a bold and unconventional idea took shape. The plan: transform the church into a financially self-sustaining community space by integrating a café directly into its nave. This was no typical conservation project. It was the brainchild of a unique collaboration between RRA Architects and the church’s then Priest-in-Charge, Andrew Mottram. Known for his maverick energy and fresh thinking, Andrew was not content to watch the building fade quietly into obsolescence.
Together, RRA and Andrew set out to reimagine what a church could be. With support from English Heritage and the PCC, they proposed a radical adaptive reuse scheme. The vision was to safeguard the building’s sacred role while introducing a new layer of civic life through hospitality and community engagement. Crucially, the café would provide a sustainable revenue stream to help fund the long-term maintenance of the building.
The design strategy was one of careful insertion rather than overhaul. Modern interventions, such as the mezzanine seating, glazed partitioning, accessible WC and a curved vestry pod, were introduced with precision and respect for the historic fabric. Materials were chosen to contrast sensitively with the medieval stonework, highlighting rather than concealing the church’s heritage.
By 2001, the All Saints café, run by Bill’s Kitchen, had opened its doors. It was a revelation. Locals and tourists alike flocked to enjoy high-quality food and coffee in one of the city’s most atmospheric settings. The space buzzed with life throughout the week, proving that the gamble had paid off. Not only was the church saved, but it had also been reborn as a thriving urban hub.
The scheme received a RIBA Award, one of the highest accolades in architecture, and a Civic Trust Award, recognising its success in both design and community impact.
Over twenty years on, the trailblazing All Saints model is still referred to as the exemplar project for church reordering and has inspired similar schemes across the country. It showed that heritage conservation and contemporary community use need not be in conflict. That with imagination, collaboration and a touch of maverick spirit, even the most at-risk buildings can find new purpose.
RRA, is very proud to have led the design that dared to ask not just how to preserve a church, but how to make it matter again, demonstrating how thoughtful design can extend the life of historic buildings, ensuring they remain relevant for future generations.
See more photos of the church at All Saints Church.
RRA Architects works nationally, but mainly in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and across the Cotswolds. As our 40 projects for 40 years series continues, we will be sharing more memories of the people, places and ideas from these areas, and beyond, that have shaped RRA Architects.