Vestry Refurbishment and Extension

The church building has been altered/ extended five times during its life – most recently in 1988. Successive Church Councils have taken the view that it is important to preserve the historic building whilst keeping its facilities in step with changing user needs. The proposed project is in three phases which will provide additional floorspace and improve services and disabled access.
This will enable us to:
· expand our work with children and young people
· provide facilities which better serve local community groups
· develop more effective administrative and pastoral support.

This short video will give you some idea of what we need to do

Phase 1 is aimed at upgrading and modernising existing facilities within the crypt for meetings and hospitality. This involves fairly minor alterations to the primary circulation route and upgrading or re-siting various services, and will provide space for a much improved and enlarged kitchen and additional WCs.

Phase 2 will create a small enclosed area within the church, in a recess adjacent to the Lady Chapel, to be used as the Clergy vestry. This is in the 1878 extension by F P Cockerell, and old drawings indicate that this area was enclosed at that time, perhaps as a vestry or church office.

Phase 3 is more ambitious and longer term. We propose to insert a new upper floor above the present choir and clergy vestries, largely within the existing roof structure, to add some 80 sq.m. of useable space for the choir and for a meeting room. The existing choir vestry will be subdivided, and the old clergy vestry will be refurbished to create a more efficient church office. A re-positioned entrance will free up more internal space and provide a defined public entrance to the building. In total we will gain four rooms of varying sizes for meetings and small functions.

We are currently raising funds to undertake the first phase of this project in 2009. To date we have commitments from our congregation, external grants and loans to cover about three quarters of the cost, but we are still seeking additional commitments.

Are you able to help us?