Christ Church Refurbishment Project

2025 is the second year of our fundraising efforts to raise the cash for our much-needed programme of improvement works at Christ Church.

We do not have the space for a church hall, but what we do have is a small room off of the main church building which is accessible by two steps down from the church. It is sufficiently large to support meetings of small groups, but there is only one toilet, which is not accessible to people in wheelchairs, and there are no kitchen facilities.

The toilet situation is dire, particularly when there is a wedding or funeral taking place in the church and there are a lot of people requiring access, in addition, the fact that it is not accessible to people in wheelchairs, means that we are failing in the area of equal opportunities for all.

New kitchen facilities will enable us to hold more functions, both for our congregation and the wider community. Our church school, which is adjacent to this room, are keen for the development to take place so that they can have the opportunity to use the new facilities to enrich the curricular offer of both their pupils and their parents and carers. Several groups in the local community would also welcome improved facilities to enhance their choices over the types of activities they will be able to offer. We are home to the West End Gospel Choir and the Campanile Choir and we will also be starting up a Children’s Choir in the new academic year. All of this means that the new facilities at church will enrich not only the lives of our congregation, but many people beyond the Sunday and weekly Worship.

The improvements to the toilets, the kitchen, and the lift [to improve disabled access from the church], have all been ratified by the P.C.C. however, they will need an increase in electrical power in order to function correctly. The Architects have come up with a plan to run additional electricity from the church to facilitate this; this particular aspect of the works required us to obtain a Faculty, which we now have, so all that is holding us back is much-needed funds.

2024 was spent working with our architects, Roger Mears and Co. and various contractors to come up with plans for the refurbishment. Confirmed plans are now in place, all of the necessary permissions have been obtained, and we are just now waiting for sufficient funds to progress the work. The congregation have worked tirelessly to raise funds throughout 2024 and 2025, by holding monthly concerts, running stalls, and we will be holding a summer fair on 27th July. As of May this year, we have managed to raise £13,773 but we are still a long way off our total.

Watch this space to find out how we progress with our plans! Should you feel moved to help us with a donation our bank details are as follows:

Name of account: Christ Church PCC

Account No: 12827368

Sort Code: 16 00 93

Bank: RBS