Activities | Projects : building project | Supporting others
Bulding project
St. John's was built twenty-five years ago, as a modern church on a new
estate. As modern churches go, the building is attractive, both inside
and out. However, we needed to develop the interior extensively
during the 1990s, in order to meet the needs of the growing congregation.
In 2005 we decided it was time to alter the outside of the building to create extra rooms. That vision has now come to fulfilment.
On Saturday, October 20, we are going to celebrate the completion of the building project. It has been a long road and, at times, a difficult one.
After our initial Gift Day in 2005 we believed we were about 88% of the way there, but we were in for a shock. The estimates we had received were dramatically different from the quotes we received from various builders. We had a few problems. Sixty thousand, to be precise - and every single one of them carried the face of Queen Elizabeth!
We had to decide whether to give back the money we had already been promised, or to press on and ask the congregation to give a second time.
We are delighted to say that no one wanted to go give up. We decided to press forward. And now the extension has been completed.
There are four reasons for embarking on this work. In extending the building we have been able to:
-
Safeguard the future of our children's work
For many years we have used the Haydon Centre. However the possibility that it might close on Sundays always exists. We could not simply wait to see whether that would happen. -
Provide a quiet place for people to talk
The open-plan nature of our church building means that it can be difficult to find a place to talk with someone privately. We want to put that right. -
Build a room in which a Parish Administrator can work
We would like an administrator to be available to church members and clergy, so that we can function more effectively. -
Create a New Vestry
Not only will this make things easier for clergy preparing for worship, but we expect to free up space currently used for storage, and make the entrance to the church much more attractive.
By October 20, we expect the interior furnishings to be entirely completed.
Why October 20 exactly? That is the day on which Bishop Mike, will come to dedicate the extension. The Dedication Service will begin at 5:00pm and will be followed by a meal and an evening of entertainment.
Next day, at both our 9:00am and 11:00am services, we will continue to focus on the theme of Living Stones when Martin Cavender from Resource comes to teach on the renewal of the church. It is going to be quite a weekend.
Activities | Projects : building project | Supporting others
Page last updated: 17 September 2007