On a very warm Thursday the staff team was supplemented by a great bunch of volunteers to clear the arches in St Michael’s Centre (Thanks to Phil, David, Andy, Freddie, Johnny, Jacob and Dan).
We are now ready for the builders! The foyer is now filled with items for re-storing in the new room configuration.
The ground floor Arches Corridor (beyond the Resources and Seminar Room), is the last remaining construction phase of St Michael’s Centre.
Finishing this work will bring five more rooms into use, plus a kitchen. This will meet the demand from our own ministry areas , as well as from external hirers.
At their meeting on Monday 17 February 2020, the St Michael’s Centre Trustees agreed to award the contract to Stone BCI Ltd, the company that worked with us to complete the balcony and the offices. Work was due to start in April, however this has been postponed due to Covid-19. We hope to make a start on it on 15 June.
The sound of bells from St Michael’s Church is here to stay.
The Parochial Church Council was granted a temporary licence in September 2018 to make safe and preserve the original bells and evaluate a modern digital bells system. The digital bells were installed in the church tower in early December 2018 and tested and adjusted over a nine-month period to get the most realistic sound.
The Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) visited the church in November 2019 to see the system and hear the bells. They noted that the system was effective and “evidently greatly appreciated by the congregation and neighbouring community”.
A faculty for permanent use of the digital bells was granted earlier this year so long as: • any future alterations or replacement of the system is referred to the DAC • they are rung for “ordinary use” (excluding times when muffled* bells would be required), and • the PCC is encouraged to progress the preservation and repair of the bells.
There were once four bells in the bell chamber: there are now only three. There is no record of what happened to the missing bell. In July 2019 the bells were removed from their pivots and supported on a timber platform to remove the weight from the historic bell frame – which is included on the Church Buildings Council’s list of significant frames
*Muffled or half-muffled bells can be rung to mark funerals and other solemn occasions.
The ground floor Arches Corridor (beyond the Resources and Seminar Room), is the last remaining construction phase of St Michael’s Centre. Finishing this work will bring five more rooms into use, plus a kitchen. This will meet the demand from our own ministry areas , as well as from external hirers.
At their meeting on Monday 17 February 2020, the St Michael’s Centre Trustees agreed to award the contract to Stone BCI Ltd, the company that worked with us to complete the balcony and the offices. Work will start in April 2020, and plans will be on display during March.
At the end of March, there will be an opportunity for everyone to view the space as it currently is, to get an idea of what an amazing facility it will be once it is finuished.
There are other elements of the building still to complete (kitchen equipment, an improved air-handling system, audio equipment upgrades and retractable seating in the Auditorium) and there are still £1.375m of mortgages and loans to be repaid.
Please pray about how you can give regularly towards the St Michael’s Centre and for the upcoming Gift Day in May this year, which supports our buildings and resources.
Our vision is living to make a difference by being a Christian heart at the centre of the community.
Our vision is realised by focusing on Discipleship, Outreach and Serving our Community.
To make our vision happen, we hold 2 gift days a year. One in November to support day-to-day ministry, and one in May to support our resources and buildings.
Giving Thanks
Our gifts make this vision possible. This year, we’ve:
Recruited new staff team members – Youth Minister, Children and Families Minister, Students and Young Adults Worker and Buildings, Facilities & Technical Services Manager.
Welcomed Tom Benyon as Associate Minister – allowing us to expand our ministry in Cheswick and through Life Groups.
Replaced the roof on our historic church building.
Thank you for joining us on this adventure of generous giving that enables our vision to become a reality.
Key Priorities for 2018-2021
Children’s Ministry
Jesus is calling us to invest in the lives of children and families. We’ve employed a paid Children and Families Minister this year to grow this ministry and lead our amazing volunteers.
New Housing Areas
In Cheswick and Harry Stoke we’d like to plant new Life Groups, grow young leaders and meet community needs for all ages.
Young Adults Ministry
Students, 20s and 30s are absent from most churches. We would like to resource ministry among this generation.
Church Building Repairs
We aim to invest in the Church building by providing toilets, renewed flooring, improved seating and repairing the dry stone wall.
This Appeal is an Invitation…..
To everyone who belongs to St Michael’s
We have a vision for growth of our congregations and our community outreach. We require faith, boldness and generosity in our giving according to our circumstances. By God’s grace and our commitment, we will have the resources to take hold of these opportunities.
If you’re not yet giving
Some of us haven’t yet been able to support our ministry and mission. Could now be your time to begin giving financially?
If you’re new to St Michael’s
Maybe you’ve recently joined church and not yet become part of the vision to be a Christian heart at the centre of the community. Would you consider giving towards the development of our ministries to enable the vision?
If you can give more
Some of us are in a better financial position than before. Please pray about increasing your giving.
