Our beautiful and unique Church, St Andrew’s has been at the heart of our Community for almost 150 years. To celebrate this milestone in 2020 we are redeveloping the space to create a warm, safe, accessible, practical and beautiful building, fit for the 21st Century. We want our church to be:
- Comfortable throughout the year
- Accessible for all visitors
- Safe for everyone using the building
- Adaptable for the needs of the next generation
- Sustainable into the future
But we need your help to make it a reality!
We have launched an exciting project to raise funds for this redevelopment. Members of the St Andrew’s Church are already working hard to fund raise and apply for Grant Making Trusts, but we would like to involve our Community too.
If you have ideas for fundraising, access to any pots of money for Community buildings or you would like to donate, we would be hugely grateful. If you know of others in our town who love this building as we do, please share our vision with them.
To donate online, please click the link below
Here is a summary of the plans:
Flooring
The current floor is unfit for purpose. The parquet flooring is lifting making it unsafe for all
The new ceramic tiles will be non-slip and a safe surface for all the activities which take place
Heating
The present heaters are on the walls and are noisy and ineffective, heating the side aisles which are largely unused
Underfloor heating will warm the whole of the church. Over time this will have the flexibility to be fuelled by ecological, sustainable means
Accessibility
The current stage does not provide access for everyone
By adding a ramp to the new, much bigger stage, which will then flow into the areas behind, we will be able to welcome everyone.
General Lighting
The current lighting is old and ineffective, unsafe to maintain.
The planned new system will be lower (at the base of the arches, enabling safer maintenance and will be economic to run.
It will make our building more accessible for those who struggle to see in the current dim lighting.
Font
This is currently situated at the busy entrance to the building and is a trip hazard
The font will be moved to the side altar near the toilet door to welcome the newest members of the church.
Servery/Bar Area/kitchen
This area desperately needs creating
Fun, fellowship and community building through sharing food and drink is a big part of what we do
A purpose built facility will be well used by Church congregations and Arts Centre patrons alike
Welcome Area/Foyer
Currently we do not have a designated arrival area
The provision of a welcome area will offer a sound proofed facility for our little ones during services and a relaxed foyer for audiences for the Arts Centre, plus it will keep in the heat during winter.
Gallery
This will be a wonderful finale to the project
Its flexibility will mean it can be used to enhance choir performances for special services/events and for audiences to Arts Centre events