Commissioned by the Diocese of London for modern-day missions into urban communities, the new-build barge Genesis is a base for activities to shape a more permanent church presence. We worked with boatbuilders and sailmakers on the fit-out, integrating storage into timber furniture to free up the full beam of the boat, in turn maximising the flexibility of the internal space. Light is controlled through a ceiling oculus and window shutters inspired by rood screens. The roof opens like a bellows, scaling up the volume below deck and resulting in a warm, un-churchlike space that makes its users feel bigger rather than smaller.