GERMANTOWN, TENNESSEE
To preserve the natural beauty of the steep, wooded north half of the site, this new 47,000 sf church will occupy the open hilltop to the
south, capturing distant views and summer breezes while enjoying the view into the grove of ancient cedar trees in the ravine to the north.
While the design reflects a creative approach to the church's needs, it also recalls the influence of traditional Anglican design as
seen in English parish churches as well as the Southern vernacular of old Germantown. The “garth,” a serene open space that will serve as an
outdoor room, is bordered by a covered ambulatory in the manner of a medieval cloister. The ambulatory directs attention to the garth and away from the
outside world, reinforcing the idea of a unified community of faith. It offers opportunities for informal encounters and processions, and affords access to
all the principal spaces of the church.
The nave, a high vaulted space with exposed wood trusses, seats approximately 400 and offers glimpses into the wooded ravine. The vaulted
parish hall includes an “inglenook” with a fireplace for small group gatherings and opens onto a terrace overlooking the north ravine. Opening off the ambulatory are offices,
music ministry, meeting rooms and a day-care center.