Church and community consultation
Following the successful repairs to the church roofs in 2021, we consulted with the church and local organisations on the next phase of improvements. Many of the current congregation and wider community groups within the town have already provided encouraging and helpful feedback about their use of the church building and the improvements they would like to see. We shared the design concepts at an open morning on 3 June 2023, as well as at other meetings with various groups within our community.
The key themes raised focus on making the church a warm, light and comfortable space which can be flexibly arranged to more practically meet the varied needs and uses of the community.
Warmth & comfort
Consistent temperature.
Comfortable and usable all year round.
Protect the historic fabric.
Efficient, effective and environmentally friendly heating system.
Lighting
Improve natural and artificial light.
Create a welcoming inspiring space.
Glass doors to flood in natural light.
New lighting scheme will highlight the architectural features of the building.
Improved accessibility
Remove changes in floor level.
All areas easy to access.
Space can be used more flexibly.
Install accessible main door.
Benefit all, especially those with mobility challenges and prams.
More flexible space
Flexible seating so space is used in a variety of ways.
Wheelchair users/infants in buggies can sit with families.
Create a lighter and more open space to enhance the beauty of the church.
Meeting spaces
Separate meeting spaces for small group worship, children's church activities, a creche and community use.
Spaces need to be acoustically separated with zoned heating and carefully crafted into the church.
Kitchen and toilets
A larger and better equipped kitchen to cater for services/social events.
Toilet facilities need to be improved in terms of quantity and quality!
Improvements will enable us to host large concerts and events.
Other needs
Storage space so our church is a tidy and ordered space.
A well-designed welcome area.
Replastering and redecoration to remove the signs of water damage and associated damp.
A modern sound system, hearing loop and audio-visual system.
Conservation and protection
Making decisions in the best interests of the long term conservation and protection of the church.
Making the church more environmentally friendly and sustainable for heating, electrics and lighting.
Generating an income from hiring out the church to help protect and maintain it in the future.
