We recently supplied and fitted steel security doors to a historic red-brick church in Coventry: a full set of made-to-measure doorsets for every entrance. The brief was simple to say and harder to do: give the building strong, low-maintenance security without spoiling the character of its original entrances.

Churches and community buildings often sit empty for long stretches of the week, which makes their doors the first line of defence. Every opening on this building was a different shape and size, from wide entrances under large glazed transoms to round-arched brick doorways and a main entrance beneath a semicircular fanlight. Each doorset was made to measure, so the doors fit the building rather than the other way round.

What we installed

• Steel security doorsets in a clean black finish with stainless steel lever furniture and keyed locking, to suit the white render and red brick of the frontage.
• Glazing kept above: on the wide entrances, the doorset fills the full width of the opening while the original glazing above stays in place, so light still reaches the interior.
• Steel arched tops on the two outer entrances, shaped to follow the round brick arches so the opening is fully closed off right up to the curve.
• Solid infill side panels to close down the extra width of the larger openings, giving a secure, flush finish with no weak points either side of the doors.

The result

The church now has a consistent, secure frontage that looks tidy from the street and keeps its period details on show. Inside, the doors still work as practical everyday entrances and exits. If you look after a similar building, see our community halls & clubs page, our range of steel security doors, or how our steel door installation service works.