Cornerstone

 

Cornerstone is the name of the project that is seeking to revolutionise our facilities.

 

St Michael’s is seeking to provide first class facilities for congregation and community that can meet the needs of the existing Church family better and provide facilities that allow us to reach out to the whole town in a more effective way.

 

There are two elements to the project.

 

 

1) 28 Hightown.

2) The Internal re-ordering

The interior of St Michael’s is stunning and

in many ways very historic.  It has become

clear that even when 28 Hightown is

complete there will still be a need for more

flexible space that can be used in a variety

of ways.

 

We also have practical problems with the

interior concerning, heating, lighting,

electrics, disabled access, flexibility for

modern worship, toilets, coffee making etc.

 

Balancing the needs of more traditional

styles and modern styles when it comes to

worship is a constant challenge and there has been extensive consultation with both the congregation and the community.  No definite plan has yet been finalised although a working group hope to recommend a scheme to the PCC very soon, that will probably include a re-shaping of the Chancel step and the removal of the pews in the nave for greater flexibility.

 

Further updates are available in the December 2008 & February 2009 Messengers.

In August 2008 we acquired,

after a negotiation and legal

process lasting more than

two years, the premises

opposite the South door of

the Church.  We needed the

building because we had no

space other than that in the

Church itself, and this was

not sufficient for the growing

needs of the congregation

and the surrounding community.  The building is about 100 years old, and it required complete refurbishment.

 

At the time of writing, July 2010, the building is fully in use and only a small number of things remain to be done.  Anyone with practical skills who wants to volunteer to help will still find a welcome!  Please ring Mike Reed on 01606 781071 if you can spare some time.  The shopfront also needs to be renewed, but this is subject to obtaining planning permission and will still be some months away.

 

The building is open between 10am and 2pm every weekday for anyone to drop in for a cup of coffee and a Fair Trade biscuit, and many are doing so. Whether you are a regular member of the congregation or a passer by, you would be very welcome.  We need volunteers to make people welcome and to carry out a multitude of other tasks.  If you are interested in this kind of volunteering, please ring Pat Pugh the office manager, on 01606 738005 or 212455.  The church office is now located in the building, and a multitude of church activities take place throughout the day and the evening.  The most exciting of these is our Sunday School, Kingdom Kids, which we have long needed space to accommodate.

 

Please continue to join with us in prayer as we make decisions and as the work continues to grow.  God is with us in this venture, and we are looking forward to using the building in many imaginative ways to expand our ministry to the community.