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St. Mary’s Church, Skye

Despite being a very traditional environment for a timber frame, the brief for this project meant that an entirely traditional solution was unlikely to fulfil it, but our Scottish timber framing and design team had an idea up their sleeve.

Client

Catholic Church

Contractor

UBC Builders with Deeside Timber Frame Contractors (softwood frame kit)

More information

Andy Parker
Hall Farm
Thickwood Lane
Colerne, Chippenham
Wiltshire
SN14 8BE
United Kingdom

Tel: 01225 743089
E-mail Andy Parker

14 November 2006 · Isle of Skye, Scotland

St Mary’s church is the first church to be purpose built on Skye for more than one hundred years. The design brief was clear about the need to create a large open, uninterrupted space for the central nave with clear views of the gable crucifix window behind the altar, for the whole congregation.

Carpenter Oak & Woodland were appointed because of their skills and expertise in designing timber framed buildings and their long pedigree of resolving challenging timber engineering problems.

St Mary's Church, Skye St Mary’s Church, Skye

The desire to create this light, bright and visually unimpeded space meant that an entirely traditional timber framing solution was unlikely to engineer successfully. Traditionally a timber framed building of this size would have incorporated an aisled space with internal posts or pillars – of exactly the type you end up sitting behind at weddings!

The solution was to create an arch braced frame with steel cable ties; light and uncluttered to suit the architectural simplicity of the building. The frame structure works in partnership with a softwood timber kit which prevents longitudinal racking, a function traditionally performed by curved braces.

St Mary's Church – interior St Mary’s Church – interior

Straight grain, air dried oak slabs were sourced from our English timber framing yard which holds a huge stock of timber specifically for arched braces. The straight grain is a necessity to avoid a continuous row of pegs along the grain which would inevitably result in splitting as the oak dries over time.

Timber selection is always a crucial part of the manufacturing process and needs to be done by a skilled timber framer. On this particular project the oak for the long spans of the principal rafters required careful securitisation to minimise the likelihood of distortion and deflection. Assembling the frame took careful consideration and a temporary bracing collar was used which enabled the trusses to be craned into position in one section.

The end result is a light, expansive building with the majestic beauty and softness that only a timber frame can bring.