The Parish Project

The project is to carry out repairs needed to our existing building and construct an extension to the current building to
provide us with a hall. THe wall between the church and hall will be replaced with folding doors so that the whole space
can be used forseating at busy masses.

The hall will allow us to provide a wide range of activities and facilities for the youth, the elderly, parents with young 
children and all areas of the community we are called to serve.

The overal cost is likely to approach £300,000 and we are seeking the bulk of the cost from grant making bodies. 
We have to raise 10% of this ourselves. One way to help with this is by making a single or regular donations to the Building Fund under the Gift Aid scheme which allow us to reclaim the tax paid by you.

Details of the plans are available at the'Information Point' in the church. 

Proposals from the Open Parish Meeting - 20 April 2005

At the Parish Open meeting on the 20th April those who attended discussed several issues facing the parish.

On the pastoral front Fr Keith identified the following issues:

Increasing numbers moving into the parish over the next 10 years with the new building. Based on 1% of the UK population being regular mass attendees this will mean an increase at mass each week of a little over 100.  The need to provide activities for our young people between First Holy Communion and Confirmation age (between the ages of 8 and 13).  The need to provide post-confirmation activities that engage young people at secondary school age and keep them involved in the life of the Church.  The parish has a very large rural area and we do not really reach this area.

In regard to the buildings we have the following issues:

The Parish Room is far too small for most of our needs including the Children’s Liturgy which needs more space.  The parish has no accommodation that we can use for the social life of our community.  The church is not big enough for the major feasts of the church’s year and for First Holy Communion Sunday when we have to have a separate mass because of numbers.  The guttering on the church, which was renewed last year, is coming away because of the rotting of the timber it is fixed to. It needs to be taken down, the timbers replaced and repainted, and the guttering replaced.  Existing external timber is rotted. In particular the window sill of the Sacristy, the door and frame leading into what is now the priests office from outside, the rear door of the Presbytery and the timbers below the rear upstairs window of the Presbytery.  There is cracking in the corners of the Presbytery on the first floor in all fours corners of the house and the floor is loose. The diocesan surveyor is of the opinion that the outside walls may be spreading outward and a structural surveyor has been asked to visit and provide a report with recommendations.  In view of the spread of housing in the area the church is not in the best position.

Solutions:

Fr Keith proposed to the meeting that we consider the construction of a hall that would meet our growing needs.  A drawing was circulated that showed one idea to provide extra accommodation that Fr Keith felt would meet all of the various needs.  This would involve the construction of a hall the whole length of the building on the road side of the building. This would provide flexible accommodation the same length as the church and about half the length. The would also be provision for another toilet, giving male, female and unisex disabled facilities. The was room for a store or kitchen as well.  It would also leave the house free for the use of the priest.  The church would be rearranged so that the altar was in the centre of the long wall and a permanent position for the font and Pascal candle could be provided with the seating running from end to end of the building bringing the people closer to the altar and the font to a position where it is visible to all.  The wall between the church and hall to be taken down leaving sufficient support and the gaps fitted with acoustic sliding doors.  This would mean that when the church is packed the sliding doors could be opened and chairs put out which would then be facing the same way as the rest of the chairs in the church.  A set of sliding doors could also be provided across the hall allowing it to be divided into two rooms.  The hall could be made available for community use as well which should provide a small income.  This plan should meet all of our parish needs, including Children’s Liturgy, First Holy Communion (including parents meetings without having to cancel the coffee on Sundays) and new youth and other activities. For example we have had enquiries about a mum’s and toddler’s group. We could also consider daytime social activities for our older parishioners who may welcome a place to spend some time together.

Finance:

Such plans sadly cost money and we have to ensure that the money raised is ‘new’ money and not money diverted from the much needed parish income. It was also recognised that we cannot simply ask those who already financially the running of the parish meet this as well. We need to look for grants and other funding.  What we do need from our people here is ideas and commitment to this project if it is to happen.  Whilst the church is not in the ideal position for the future new housing it is not practical to look to sell the current land and build a new church, hall and house further out of Gloucester. There is a covenant on the land which means that half of any profit from the sale of the land would be payable to the local authority. This would leave us with about £750,000 to raise.  As the hall could be a community facility and we are looking to facilitate youth work in it we need to seek grants from any available source.  A committee to oversee the fundraising will be formed under the chairmanship of Paul Markey and we are looking for people with the right skills, experience and connections to work on the committee. Please speak to Fr Keith if you think you could help.  We also need lots of ideas for fundraising. The fundraising needs to be much faster than the rate building costs are rising!  We have formed a building fund which will be kept separate from the parish funds and as such will not be subjected to levy by the diocese so every penny raised is spent on our building. We also have a separate Gift Aid code for the building fund so that any Gift Aided donations also go directly into this account together with the recovered tax.  The forms are available in the Narthex and are clearly marked as Building Fund and printed on cream paper.

Decision of the meeting:

The outstanding repairs on the existing building should be rolled together and quotations obtained. This project to be met from the new Building Fund.  The proposed plans to be proceeded with to find out if it is feasible for approval for planning and the diocese. A costing estimate to be obtained which includes extending the car park and moving the road entrance.  The proposals need to be put to the Liturgy Commission of the diocese who will need to agree the changes to the church.   Once firmer proposals are available a further meeting to be called to discuss proceeding.

From Fr Keith,

In the time I have been here I have listened to what everyone has said about our needs. I have also looked at various options and met with people who could either give me background information or advice on the practicalities of moving forward with various options.

My view is that the building extension with the option of being able to extend the church into the hall area for large masses meets all of our needs. Providing as it does a hall (which can be split into two rooms) and a kitchen and further toilet facilities.

It will be a challenge for us all to meet the changes and the fund raising for this project (and the repairs to our existing buildings) but I know that we can achieve this if we are all committed to it and all play our part. Indeed it could be a good thing for us as a community to work together to achieve this goal. It is no good just moving money from parish income to the building fund because, as you know, the income has not met our costs for the last two years and the majority of our costs are outside of our control in the main. We need to identify new ways of raising money from a wider source than just the regular mass attendees who already contribute. We also need to identify funds we can apply to for grants. We need from everyone:

Commitment, ideas, involvement and PRAYER. And, where people can, their financial support as well. Remember that money given to the building fund remains 100% in the parish.

God bless,

Fr Keith