How and Why Clare Priory is a special site because of its intrinsic loveliness, its venerability, its religious and cultural associations. As a result it is necessary to satisfy a whole range of stake-holders, the Augustinian Order, the building users, as well as wider society in the form of English Heritage and historical and amenity societies. Inkpen Downie Architecture and Design were introduced to the project in 2001 and in the years succeeding conducted an exhaustive exploration of the alternatives for enlarging the church. This progressed in a succession of consultations with the planning authorities, and periods of reflection by the church. Planning permission and Historic Monument Consent were granted in 2008. The church is too small to accommodate the needs of it's congregation and the wrong shape to accommodate the modern liturgy. The constraints of the ancient monument meant it was necessary to use the green area outside for room to develop the worship space. The new extension is entered through the original building via an arcade formed in an existing length of late 19th century wall. The new building is unobtrusive without being retiring, it is contemporary without being strident. It respects the scale of its historic settng and still manages to provide for modern space requirements. How constructed The new building is constructed off a piled foundation, chosen to minimise interference with any archaeological remains. A few steel columns rise from the raft to support a curved laminated timber roof structure. Structurally the old and the new never meet, the extension is free standing, with projecting glass panels forming the lightest possible connection with the existing fabric. From the east and west the building is mainly screend by vertical oak blades or louvres to reduce solar gain. Views are available from the green space in front of the building through to the trees behind. To the south the wall is solid, in brick and stone that wraps around the corner for a short way to form a solid block or gable reflecting the architecture of the original building. Within the building finishes are simple, a stone floor, plaster walls and ceilings contrasting with the texture of the rubble walls providing enclosure on two sides. Outside there is dressed stonework to the new west elevation and extensive use of brick in english garden wall bond and lime mortar to the south and east. The roof is clad in zinc that will develop a dull grey patina. Comfort is provided by high insulation levels and under-floor heating.