How the story started
It’s a topic that has been discussed several times over the last few decades, but our current story started in 2006 when the inspection report highlighted issues with the roof, floor and heating. We fixed the roof to keep us dry! The next report in 2011 identified again a number of areas that required significant improvement in order to be a compliant, safe and fit for purpose facility. These issues were not minor in nature and required a long term response rather than a patch up here and there. It fails to meet current standards for safety, for accessibility, for heating, for lighting, and for environmental efficiency in a public building.
The theme through our story is one of God’s timing and so it was that John joined us as vicar just at the time that the report was being considered and prayed over. A fresh pair of eyes, lots of prayer and a desire to build on our inheritance and leave a legacy for the future inspired the PCC to start to seek God’s will for a long term solution.
Simultaneously, we began to experience growth at Christ Church. Growth that can be measured in a number of ways; attendance was, and remains, higher, our database of people and groups connected to the church rose significantly, the staff team has expanded and marvelously the types of ministries offered to the community is almost unrecognizable from five years ago. In 2011 there was no Seven, no CAP… the list goes on and on.
So it seems that we were no longer simply looking at how to fix heating systems or installing some loos; we are being challenged to provide facilities that can meet the present and future ministry needs of the community. Indeed, it is a reality NOW that some ministries are constrained by our present facilities.
It is in this context that the Development Team started working in earnest. There are three planned parts of work:
Phase 1 . Create space for the expanding staff team on the 1st Floor of the Memorial Hall. NOW COMPLETED!
Phase 2 . Address the issues identified in the 2006 and 2011 reports and reemphasized in the July 2016 update report.
Phase 3 . Create further capacity.
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The theme through our story is one of God’s timing and so it was that John joined us as vicar just at the time that the report was being considered and prayed over. A fresh pair of eyes, lots of prayer and a desire to build on our inheritance and leave a legacy for the future inspired the PCC to start to seek God’s will for a long term solution.
Simultaneously, we began to experience growth at Christ Church. Growth that can be measured in a number of ways; attendance was, and remains, higher, our database of people and groups connected to the church rose significantly, the staff team has expanded and marvelously the types of ministries offered to the community is almost unrecognizable from five years ago. In 2011 there was no Seven, no CAP… the list goes on and on.
So it seems that we were no longer simply looking at how to fix heating systems or installing some loos; we are being challenged to provide facilities that can meet the present and future ministry needs of the community. Indeed, it is a reality NOW that some ministries are constrained by our present facilities.
It is in this context that the Development Team started working in earnest. There are three planned parts of work:
Phase 1 . Create space for the expanding staff team on the 1st Floor of the Memorial Hall. NOW COMPLETED!
Phase 2 . Address the issues identified in the 2006 and 2011 reports and reemphasized in the July 2016 update report.
Phase 3 . Create further capacity.
<back to previous page