External view of North Wall roof; showing the lower layer of pantiles removed to install the new felt gutter liner.Issue 14 - 30th March 2007
More Ramps! 2007
We are currently looking to install additional ramps to assist access for wheelchairs and baby buggies going into our church hall,
and for additional fire egress from the church. Along with this is the need to provide outward-opening doors to the church fire exits,
and all this without spoiling the original design of the building. Exploritory work has been commenced on possible solutions,
but no decision has yet been made on final plans.
Loop system, 2005-2006:
In 2004, we discovered that the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 would require, by October 2004, an Audio Frequency Induction Loop System, meeting BS 7594,
(for the benefit of the hearing impared). Given that the church worship area is around 600 square metres, this was going to to be quite a large system!.
After a lot of planning and calculation, we finally applied for a faculty in 2005 to install a loop system. This was completed in March 2006.
Linked to our existing Sound Reinforcement System, hearing aid users now benefit from a direct sound feed without so much distracting background noise.
This restarted the thinking about how we should redevelop the worship area. Could we make changes that would enhance our use of the worship space? Could we improve the access for our less able-bodied participants? Any work would involve some mess, so what should we do about redecoration? Lots of questions which our Church Council have been considering over the last year or so.
We have been working again with "People and Places", the architects who helped us before with the new reception area and hall refurbishment. The Plans and Specifications have now been finalised, and we are currently putting these out to tender. We aim to start the work in early January 2002, and finishing ready for Easter 2002. Copies of the colour scheme can be viewed here.
Nov. 2001: We have finalised the plans and specifications and the work is currently at the tendering stage. This includes the replacement of the internal lighting in the church and vestries, the redecoration of the church, the reordering of the chancel, the inclusion of an access ramp in the chancel, and remedial work on areas of damp penetration.
Feb. 2002: Responses to our tenders have not been as promising as we hoped, and with the current glut of work in the building industry, there is clearly no one particularly hungry to do the work for us, at least not at a reasonable price! We continue to look for suitable contractors, and raise funds. In the meantime, we are meeting again with our architects to consider the way forward.
May 2002: At long last - work has started!
We have moved out of the church building, and all services are now in the hall, or one of the smaller rooms.
Repairs to roofs and gutters are under way, the pulpit and choir pews have been removed, the new access ramp is being cut into the floor,
and the new wiring is being installed for the lighting.
Proof of work so far:-
all photos ©St.Paul's Church, East Ham, London E6 2EU To open a higher definition image (around 300 ~ 450KB each picture) click on the image !
External view of North Wall roof; showing the lower layer of pantiles removed to install the new felt gutter liner.
The Nave, viewed from the East end. As the builders move their materials in, we move all our furniture, etc. out!
Close up of the new access ramp adjacent to the organ console.
The Nave, viewed from the West End. Showing the new staging blocks in construction.
The Side Chapel.
June 2002: The Decorators arrive!
Now that most of the wiring has been installed (some 8500m of it!) that decorators have taken over and have begun to brighten up the place.
The Nave ceiling has been almost completed, and work is now starting on the Side Chapel ceiling.
August 2002: Nearly there!
Almost all the work has been completed, just the last little 'snags' to tidy up. It looks great already,
and we haven't even started to put back the banners and fittings yet.
September 2002: Whilst a few snags remain to be completed, enough has been done to enable us to re-use the church.
Various views of the redecorated church!
So, the church is back in use for services as from the 6th of October 2002.
January 2003: A weekend of events were held as our formal "reopening" celebration, a Youth Service, a Talent Night, and a Rededication & Confirmation Service were held in time for our Patronal Festival on the 26th January 2003. Friends old and new came and joined our celebration. Our special thanks to the Right Rev. John Perry, the (soon to retire) Bishop of Chelmsford who presided at our confirmation, and the the Right Rev. David Hawkins, our (new) area bishop of Barking, who presided at the following Communion Service.
Here are some pictures (taken by and ©2003 Alan Fenn) during the celebration event, mainly over lunch!:-
May 2005: The follow up!
When we agreed to embark on the church building refurbishment, we aslo agreed to raise an additional 10% to fund a church building project in the third world. We have now agreed that this will be in Lima, Peru - through 'Latin Link'.
Fund raising is now in hand to raise the £13k to support this project.
If you require further information please contact Graham Field
