Hurrah! We are hoping to start work on site soon! First of all, the project was delayed by the whole tree-root "problem". Then, when the tenders for work came in, they were somewhat higher than anticipated due partly to the delay and also a general, but significant, rise in building costs. We needed to give the matter considerable thought and then five of us went to meet the architects to discuss possible ways of bringing the cost down. It was a very successful meeting where the architect suggested an alternative roof window mechanism that isn't so expensive. It was also decided that we will not have a lavatory included as we have very good disabled-access facilities in our church hall. This change of plan means a considerable saving. Lastly, it was decided that we could do our own internal decoration. The one thing that we all agreed should not be changed is the doors. The concept of seeing right through glass doors from street to beautiful interior is very important and we must not detract from this aesthetically. All this must now, of course, be re-presented to the contractors who hopefully will agree and come back to us with tenders of about £ 20,000 less. If this happens, work should start soon and it would be really wonderful if we could Open Our Doors next summer.

Source: Liz Butler, The Spire Magazine - 2004 January

Latest on 'Opening Our Doors'
1. The PCC has formerly accepted the revised tender from the contractor DNL Ltd. and has authorised the architects Carden & Godrey to draw up a contract based on
this tender.
2. We are just about to send in the application to the DAC for a faculty. This is permission to go ahead. Hopefully this should be with us by early February.
3. This week (mid January) we are expecting the architect and the contractor to visit the site. A photograph will be taken so that we can have a record for the archive, something to show soon on a board in the church and put on our website. All in all, it is exciting and gives a sense of really moving forward.

Source: Liz Butler, The Spire Magazine - 2004 February

More than an Office . . . . . ?
Surely the Lord is in this place; and I did not know it. How awesome is this place! (Genesis 28: 16-17)

Our parish church is a sacred place. It is a place where God is known in prayer, in worship, and in silence. It is a place where God's story connects with our experiences at baptisms, funerals and weddings. It is where we gather together as the Body of Christ at the Eucharist, and from where we are sent out into our community in love. We cannot confine God to a building, but in encountering God in a holy place we find him elsewhere.

St. James's stands as witness to the presence of God in our world, and the way in which we develop and use the building speaks of God and plays an important part in our mission as a church. A previous generation added the spire which points upwards reflecting the mystery and wonder of God. In developing the west porch we are witnessing to that same God, who in Christ chose to live among us. It will be much more than an office. The church will be open beyond the times of daily prayer. Just as in Advent and Lent, there will be the opportunity to enter the building; to pause for a time of stillness; to be before God with our concerns, anxieties or joys.

The use of glass for the roof and doors will create a light and welcoming space. Viewing the length of the church from the street will speak of our vision and mission; of openness to the world and our desire to share God's love. Space for administration and space to meet with those wishing to talk enables us to open to others a space to be before God, to rest in his presence. We will have the opportunity to use the building in new ways. The accessibility and openness of our parish church allows us to communicate God's love.

This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven

Source: Julie Gittoes, The Spire Magazine - 2004 March

An Update on the West Porch
By the time you read this, things will probably have moved on considerably. Though how visible the progress will be depends on how difficult and labour-intensive the work is. The planning permission was granted, the Faculty from the Diocese eventually arrived and work has begun. The old West Porch has now been demolished, and the stonework, tiles, some of the brickwork and various fixtures and fittings have been kept to be used in building the new greatly enlarged porch. See the photographs Taking Down the Old Porch. The next stage is to dig the foundations, which is a fiddly process because of the need to protect the roots of the copper beech tree on the corner of St James’s Road and Park Road. Digging will be limited to the area where piles are going to be sunk to support the base of the new building. This will have to be done by hand because of the restrictions put into the planning permission by the Council. At this stage we watch and wonder, with our fingers crossed, whether the contractors can complete the work in the scheduled sixteen weeks.

Meanwhile, fundraising continues with great enthusiasm. There is the ‘Buy a Brick’ sponsorship scheme with prices from £5 for a brick, through £50 for a flagstone, to £800 for a computer. (Prices for the glass doors and glass roof are available on application!) Details are on the brick coloured leaflet which is available at the back of the church. There is also a magnificent programme of events throughout the year and into 2005, including theme suppers, a Quiz Night; musical events, such as the highly successful performance of Haydn’s Creation, recitals; a Barn Dance and the Harvest Festival Spectacular weekend for the Official Opening of our Doors. All details are in the red leaflet available in church. Watch out for notices, and watch the space at the west end of the church.

Source: Rodney Taylor, The Spire Magazine - 2004 May

By the time you have read this it will all have changed! To the trained, and even untrained, observer there has been much building activity going on. Some, but not all, of it has been to plan. There had to be an adjustment of the position of the west wall which required extra piling. This resulted in some delay which means that the project is currently behind schedule by about four weeks. (How often is a building project ahead of schedule?) However, as I write, the piles are completed, the base is ready and the walls will start growing fairly rapidly now. By the time the magazine is published the roof might even be on. See the photographs Starting Building.

The steering group have regular meetings with the contractors and the architects to discuss progress and to sort out big issues as well as details. There are also meetings to discuss the fitting out of the new space that will become available soon. The office space is going to take in lots of the things that are currently scattered around the parish, some with Janet Nunn, some with Griselda Barrett, some with the churchwardens, and some on the floor, and in the filing cabinets, of Brian's study. This will bring together the increasing load of administration of the parish into a central point that is part of the church. The other room will have many functions as a small meeting room, an interview room, a counselling room and will be fitted out appropriately. But, most importantly, we shall have the view through the new glass doors from St. James's Road right up to the altar, which will be illuminated as the focus of our church. Truly this is an opening of our doors.

Fund raising continues and there is an updated timetable with more details of all the events that are taking place over the coming months. These events have been and continue to be ways of not only fund raising but bringing people from across the parish together with a common purpose in support of opening our doors, and our church, to all.

Source: The Spire Magazine - 2004 July