For many years the PCC has been considering how to improve the use of the north aisle.
There have been discussions with the church architect and the diocesan authorities and plans have now been drawn up which have been submitted for consideration by the Diocesan Advisory Committee.
At the Annual Meeting on 11th May 2025 Philip Sims, the chairman of the PCC, gave a presentation to those present explaining the plans and shared some images which had been produced by the architect showing what it should look like.
The proposal is to remove the screen around the choir vestry which is in the north west corner of the church. This means that the two windows in that corner, which are the two best windows in the church. will become more visible. The existing vestry in the Loft area (in the north east corner of the church) will be reconfigured and enlarged and will become the choir vestry. A kitchen will be created in the location of the current choir vestry, which will be built using the timber from the screen. The existing kitchen in the Loft area will be reconfigured and used as a small priest’s vestry.
The pews will be removed from the north aisle and the floor will be replaced with a wooden floor. Tables and chairs will be acquired so that the space can be used in a flexible way and there will be a storage space for the tables when they are not in use. The chairs will be able to be used when there is a large congregation.
The Diocesan Advisory Committee has given advice and made some suggestions which have been taken into account in drawing up the current proposals, which have been submitted to them for further advice. We await that further advice and hope that they will approve moving the application on to the next step.
The following images give an impression of what it should look like when it is finished.
