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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.
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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.
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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. |
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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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