Amport Church Extensions

Church Extensions

At the PCC Meeting held on 29 July, the following developments were discussed:

Meeting Room, Kitchen and Toilet

On 14 July, a visit to St Mary's had been made by Mr Eric Sealy, the Church Architect, the Archdeacon and two members of the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) to consider options put forward on behalf of the PCC by Maurice Orchard. The option of a stand-alone building behind the Church which would contain all three needs, was first considered, but not thought to be the best solution, partly because of higher costs and also because space for the Meeting Room/Sunday School Room could be made available within the Church. The options under consideration are:

Entrance porch.

Proposal for new entrance porch The DAC sub-committee felt that the suggestion to extend the entrance porch towards the Sheppard Tomb and back towards the boundary wall was very inventive, and would address the difficulties of the setting of the Tomb. They would wish us to explore this further and to involve the local authority and English Heritage at this early stage. Once designs had been produced, they should be forwarded to the DAC.

Internal partitioning of the South Transept.

The South Transept could be portioned off with glass and if this were to be secondary glazed it might afford a degree of soundproofing. Any design would need to be very carefully detailed so as not to obscure the stained glass window and obviously the space would need to be used on particular occasions as part of the whole church. Designs should be forwarded to the DAC for their comment. Considerable discussion took place at the PCC Meeting, which included counter proposals to partition the choir or nave arches, the possibility of a meeting room being included in the entrance porch area. Particular concern was expressed at the proposed glass screen which might cause a barrier during schoolchildren's services.

Proposal for mezzanine floor Since the PCC Meeting, an earlier idea of glass screening the lower level of the West end of the Nave has again been proposed, and building a mezzanine floor with a meeting room above (with a glass front up to to the roof arch). The sketch shows the possible level of the mezzanine floor. But a staircase (and disabled person's lift?) would be needed, and this would represent a major intrusion to the design of this area. The Font would have to be moved and costs would be very high. It should be noted that the idea has been used very successfully and, in the case of Preston in Lancashire, with substantial lottery money since wider community use is involved.

The PCC resolved that the projects should be referred to David Blissett, an architect very experienced in Churches who lives near the Church, who had offered to help with the sketch designs needed by the DAC. These would be considered by the PCC.

Stewardship and Fundraising

If these projects were to be approved by the PCC and DAC, there would be a need for capital fundraising which, in real terms, would be at least as much as the 1988 Roof Appeal. It would be important for such fundraising not to adversely affect the income needed annually, and in this respect care would be needed not to reduce our carefully nurtured invested capital fund. The Standing Committee would take advice and consider forming a Leadership Group of people with business and financial skills.

The Vicar has a copy of an important video and discussion notes, "RESTORING HOPE IN OUR CHURCH". This has messages from the Archbishop of Canterbury and others, and poses challenging issues on what is most important. The Vicar will obtain a couple more copies for Parishioners to borrow.

Flagpole

Mrs Olivier, and her late Husband's Family, had offered in 2000 that a flagpole be donated in memory of Brigadier Charles Olivier and as part of the Queen's Jubilee. In his retirement, and apart from supporting the Church, Brigadier Olivier had devoted a great deal of his time to Village matters. It was not thought wise to replace the one formerly set in the Tower Roof, however a fine Flagpole on the side of Durweston Church near Blandford had been noted. The PCC resolved that a Faculty should be sought from the Diocesan Advisory Committee and if approved by them, the Members would consider the kind offer made by the Olivier Family.

Families News

Margaret Geek and Lorna Haig attended the PCC Meeting at the invitation of the Chairman and were very pleased to hear the news that a Sunday School would be available in the event of the Children' s Chapel glass screen being installed. There was insufficient time at the Meeting for them to discuss, but a few of the points they would have raised were as follows:

	toddler groups in the Church midweek weekly during the school term at, say 2.30 to 3.30pm once a week (which would tie in with picking up elder children at school).
	mid week children's meetings after school.
	make a large wooden cross wide enough for Sunday School children's work to be posted on, with a view to carrying the Cross to the Altar at the end of a Family Service. - DFM