The church was originally built as a Chapel of Ease for older residents to attend rather than walking to neighbouring Westborough. It later became its own parish church and its tower, dating from the 14th century, is estimated to have first moved in the late 19th century or early 20th century.
"I want to suggest to the commission, but to the city really, that the most difficult aspect that the commission will face, has faced, is facing now, and will face for the foreseeable future, is this issue of religious architecture in the city."
The alteration is also taking place in the least important part of the building from a historic perspective. All five flats in the Old Bailey are used for operational purposes, with none of them let out commercially.