The Church Restoration Fund
I am pleased to report that the Historic Churches Committee approved much of what our architect proposed for the Church. The diocesan trustees approved a loan of £50,000, we have already raised £50,000 ourselves, so we are not doing too badly, however we still have to pay the money back. The next part of this initial phase is to deal with the lighting and inadequate electrics. I hope that we can start work shortly, with a minimum amount of interference to our Mass schedule.
Rough estimate of costs, we have had no tenders yet. Removal of lino, sanding floor, making good etc £5,000. However we do not know the state of the floor under the lino, if it is unsuitable for sanding it would cost at least £50,000 to cover with a suitable surface, lino is unacceptable nowadays.
It would be good to strip and clean and revarnish the benches but that will be an extra cost, about £6,000.
Altering levels and a new floor on the sanctuary, moving altar and font £20,000
Moving organ console £3,000
Lighting and electrical work £75,000
Total £103,000
It would be good to strip and clean and revarnish the benches but that will be an extra cost, about £6,000.
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| Existing plan of church (click to enlarge) |
Proposed plan of church (click to enlarge) |
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Some of areas which need restoring (hover over the small icons)
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Removing the Lino
It took about two and half hours to get rid of the lino and pull up the nails. Thanks to Christine, Frances, Liz, Gloria, Peter, John, John, Jack, Laurence, Des, Peter and Robert, I hope I haven't forgotten anyone. They worked like Trojans.
The worst part of the floor was by the main door where it was heavily worn. I would love to put a hardwood floor on top of the pine boards but we simply can't afford it, I dread the dust that it is going to create. I have to speak to the organ builder to see what steps can be taken to protect the pipes and mechanism from dust and I suppose it is going to make the cobwebs in the vaulting of the roof visible for a few years. We'll carry on praying for the conversion of Bill Gates, and a large cheque in the post - God is good!
It is quite fascinating, archaeologically, you can see traces of an interior porch, the foundations of the font and pulpit and even holes for the original lighting system, gasoleers, which would have emerged from the floor. I wish we had more original pictures of these things. There are one or two metal plates around that would have had a purpose which is now forgotten.