St Matthew's re-ordering
This month’s letter is an update on St Matthew’s re-ordering plans. Whilst of greatest interest to the Harwell readership, many people in Chilton might be interested to know what is going on down the road in the sister church.
What’s this all about?
You will hopefully recall that, following consultation, St Matthew’s have committed to making the church building more flexible, accessible and comfortable by replacing the fixed pews with chairs and installing a new heating system. The plans also involve some minor levelling of the floor and laying a new carpet. We are also planning to redecorate the nave (the main seating area), which is a major project involving scaffolding.
So how far have we got?
We already have permission and funding for the redecoration, and are in the final stages of seeking formal approval for the seating/flooring project. We are doing some extra work on the heating plans before formally seeking approval to proceed with this. We have identified some - but not all - of the funding for the heating/seating/flooring project.
What is the timescale?
We have committed to the redecoration work between 25th September and 3rd November, during which time the church will not be open to the public. During October the 11am services (1st to 29th inclusive) will not be held in church, and will instead be held in Harwell Village Hall (please bring your own bibles!). We hope still to be able to use the chancel for the 8am and evening services, however. (During this period, post for the office can be delivered to the Rectory).
We hope to do the seating/flooring work during November, if we are granted permission in time and contractors can be lined up, but this is currently uncertain. Alternatively this could be done in the New Year. This work should hopefully not disrupt our regular pattern of services and other activities. The heating aspect of the project would not happen until early 2018.
How can I get involved?
Firstly, please pray for the project, for permissions and funding, and that it would help our mission to Grow God’s Church, wider, deeper and closer.
Secondly, please consider whether you might be able to make a financial gift towards the seating, the heating, or both, and whether you might like to donate a chair/chairs in memory of a loved one (see link below or call the Church Office).
Thirdly, please consider whether you might like to buy a pew. Some are already spoken for, but there are still some available. There is more information about this on the previous page.
“We are fellow workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building”
1 Corinthians 3:9
For further information about the project and a downloadable copy of the fundraising leaflet, please see http://HCChurches.org/fitforthefuture
Revd Dr Jonathan Mobey
Rector of Harwell and Chilton
October 2017