STATEMENT OF NEED - ALL SAINTS CHURCH HEMBLINGTON

The appointment of a new, full time Rector two years ago and the congregation raising the local profile of the church has in turn served to highlight the inadequacy of existing facilities and have prompted the proposals below.  These plans in outline were discussed with a DAC sub group in March 2008.

1.  The Need.

¨       The lack of the facilities and structural issues highlighted below is significantly compromising our ability to develop the clear potential of the church to attract new worshippers and encourage its use as a community asset.

¨       The lack of toilet facilities in particular discourages both the elderly and families with children from coming to the church.

¨       The necessity to address the damp issues and its causes have been highlighted in recent Quinquenial reports in order to preserve the structure and heritage of the church

¨       The external lighting needs to be improved for personal and building security. This will allow the church to be used for evening functions more during the dark winter months.

¨       A kitchen area is needed from which refreshments can be served after services and for community events.

¨       Mains water is needed to supply the kitchen and, when funds permit, enable a flushing toilet to be installed.

Without these facilities our church will decline. The isolated nature of this church is also its strength. Its development as a centre for peace and prayer  will require a wider base of supporters. Based on our experience to date we can involve a wider community, by providing the basics of a kitchen, mains water and toilet.

 2.  Difficulties in Meeting the Need.

2.1.  Damp.

      The existing soakaway system is clogged and cannot be maintained due to its design. This means that we need to install a better designed system that will be maintainable and last into the future. Along the west wall of the nave and around the tower hard plaster has been used on the bottom 4 feet and this is causing damp problems to occur above this level, we therefore need to remove this and replace with a soft lime plaster.

         2.2.  Lighting.

      At present external lighting consists of one ugly light on the church tower and one light bulb inside the church porch. Both are controlled from inside the church by a switch inside a locked cupboard. This means that the church is rarely used after dark as the person unlocking and locking the doors has a lot of fumbling with torches and must approach and leave the church in darkness.

       Freestanding solar markers have been used for occasional events but are not a permanent solution as they can be removed and provide little light. To provide ambience to our candlelit carol service nightlights in jars marked the path but these fall prey to bad weather and are extremely time consuming.

       Three or four simple bollard lights along the path and a lantern on the outside of the porch combined with a remote control device would make parishioners feel safer and the church more welcoming.

2.3.  Kitchen

       A purpose built kitchen area would enable our congregation to share more time together around services. Hospitality at community events is currently limited due to lack of facilities. Crockery can be stored in church but needs to be taken home to be cleaned after use. For a large event when we may have 80 to 150 visitors this is a big task. The church has an urn for hot water but all water has to be brought from home.

         Mains water would make hosting events easier. An experiment with large bottles of water delivered to the church was partially successful; however, the bottles were extremely heavy and difficult to move.

2.4.  Toilet

          The eventual aim of installing a toilet to the North side of the church can only be realised if a mains water supply is in place. There are no public facilities in the area. When we organise events a tent with a camping Elsan toilet is pitched at the east end of the church. This is not easy to use and impossible for those with limited mobility. A toilet would allow us the freedom to run whole day workshops, give peace of mind to parents of young children, those who travel long distances to weddings and funerals, and make the church a place to linger rather than rush away from at the end of services.

3.  The Proposal

3.1.  Damp

¨       Extend spouts to the tower by 1.2metres on stainless steel supports.

¨       Build geo-textile drains under spouts leading to soakaways.

¨       New gully and lower part of 4” down pipe to be fitted to west of porch.

¨       Remove and relocate water butt and provide new shoe and gully.

¨       Gullies to be connected to new clay drain pipe, access plate, filter and crate drains to be laid along the line of an old grass path.

¨       Remove cement plaster and damaged lime plaster, leave wall to dry then re-plaster with lime hair plaster and re-lime wash.

¨       Gutters will be repaired and painted.

¨       Down pipes to be cleared and sealed.

3.2.  Lighting

¨       Take an outside cable from the distribution board through the bricked up North door to the far side of the gravel path to provide electricity for three bollard lights.

¨       Bollard lights to be positioned near the tower, gate and path bend.

¨       Provide a simple lantern within the porch.

¨       These external lights to be controlled by a 2 way switch.

¨       Remove the existing tower light and associated wiring.

3.3.  Water

¨       Install mains water by running a pipe from the south side of Hemblington Hall Road to the church gate, along the new gravel path and into the church through the bricked up north door.

3.4.  Kitchen

¨       A small run of units to be placed at the rear of the nave on the north wall adjacent to the north door.

¨       A sink unit to be plumbed for hot, cold and waste water. Hot water would be provided by a small water heater under the work surface

¨       The work surface is to be concealed by a wooden lid so that it does not detract from the church interior when not in use.

¨       Units are to be free standing and clad in dark wood to match the pulpit

 3.5.  Toilet

¨       When funding permits we wish to construct a small extension to the north door so that we can utilise the mains water and waste from the kitchen with minimum disruption to the historic fabric. This extension will house a level access toilet and wash basin. A short length of gravel path would be needed to join up with existing paths.

Although a costly project we have discounted two other proposals:-

a)  A cabin on in the south west corner of the churchyard, finding an appropriate construction led us to the conclusion that this would be very costly and require more disruption to the churchyard.

b)  Placing the toilet in the church tower. Privacy was an issue here. Water and waste would need to be taken through the oldest part of the church fabric. This is the only vestry space and the bell ropes and tower access ladder pose problems of congestion.

 4.  Support and Practicalities.

¨       The church has a designated fabric fund which will be used up by roof and maintenance of rainwater goods. A £900 donation is ring fenced for the development of the kitchen.  It is our aim to continue fund raising and also to apply for grants in order to complete the works along with some existing funds.

¨       A local farmer is prepared to do the groundworks for the water supply which needs to come across a road and a field before reaching the churchyard. This will reduce the cost of bringing the water to the church by £8000.

¨       Many people in the local villages were, until recently, unaware of their parish church. By raising the profile of the church within its community, we are involving a wider range of people in the work of the church. Whilst on the one hand this is evidenced by the attendance at events, the weddings booked for next year, the increase in baptisms and the local singing group using it as a rehearsal and performance venue, it is also clear that the lack of facilities is a barrier for some people and is compromising opportunities for wider usage.