- To provide ways in which the church building can engage with the parents and
children of St Paul's School, and the local community on a daily basis.
- To recapture some of the beauty and simplicity of the church built by William
Wilberforce
- To create more space in the church both for existing congregational needs and
future growth.
- To provide a space which can be used in exciting and imaginative ways.
- To be a church that reflects some of the concerns of William Wilberforce -
evangelism, social action and the provision of community facilities.
- To provide a Wilberforce display and resource area.
- To meet health and safety requirements - disabled access and lavatories etc.
- To make the fabric sound and watertight, and repair faulty stonework.
We wish to conserve what is good in the past and to reach out boldly to the future.
How do we achieve this?
Through prayer, and unity of purpose and vision!
Psalm 127: Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labour in vain.
The Proposed Plans
The work falls into roughly three sections/phases. However, they are not mutually exclusive, and the Building Working Party views the proposed plans as a single project.
1. The Restoration
The Building Research Establishment has recommended that we remove the existing render and re-render with a material that allows the building to breathe.
2. The Reordering
- Build an extension on the north side to accommodate a good-sized entrance area with disabled access.
- Place the organ pipes in the gallery. This would reveal the chancel windows and
provide more space in the chancel area.
- Remove the rood screen, which is not contemporary with the building, so that the
magnificent east window can, once again, be viewed properly. This will also
improve the visual simplicity and aid the replanning of the east end.
- Bring the gallery forward, by one bay, to provide more seating.
- Refurbish and reorganize the vestry area.
- Replace the pews with chairs.
- Redecorate and relight the interior.
3. The Development of the Crypt
This is a wonderful opportunity (perhaps the only one we shall ever have) to bring into play all the features of our building. Many churches have very successfully made use of their crypt space.
By developing this area we shall be further strengthening the building (both in terms of the structure and the damp problems) and thus making sure that we have a church that will last for many years to come.
Some possible uses for the Crypt:
- A warm and welcoming meeting-place that is open daily.
- A crèche area with relay or CCTV.
- Facilities for the serving of coffee/tea etc.
- Use by St Paul's School.
- A display and resource area for material relating to William Wilberforce.
- A bookstall/library.
- A small 'Wilberforce Chapel' for quiet meditation and prayer.
- A Sunday group area.
- Office space.
- Storage space.
- Loos.
Also…
We should like to landscape the area on the south side of the church to provide an attractive space for use by church, school and community
The Cost
£2.2 million
View Press Cuttings
£250,000 for the Cyrpt, Dec 2005 Vision Article, Sep 2003
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