Three years of energetic fund-raising have resulted in the completion of the internal re-ordering of St Mary’s church.  The project, which cost £104,500, entailed major works at the front and back of the nave, while leaving the majority of the area untouched, retaining the visual impact and cohesion of the original Victorian design.  We now have a superb stage area between the pews and the chancel, which has already proved its worth in services, concerts and major events like the Christmas Tree Festival.
	At the west end of the church there is now a discreet kitchen area in the south corner, the font having been relocated just to the north side of the centre aisle to make room.
In the north corner a purpose-built range of cabinets has created much-needed storage space and doubles as seating for a dedicated children’s area.  To achieve these changes fundamental (and expensive) alterations were necessary to the elderly heating system, and two rows of pews have been removed from the front of the nave.
We now have space and improved sight-lines to enable better views from the pews of the action at the front of the nave, and space and the facility to allow the west end of the church to be comfortably used for after-service coffee gatherings, better access for families to the font at baptism services, and more welcoming surroundings for all ages when they first enter the church.   The Shaping The Future fund is being continued, as there is still money in the kitty and fund-raising continues, though the identity of the next project has yet to be decided.

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