Progress report – 22 December 2022
Many more stones have been laid since people visited the church two weeks ago. The pattern of the tiles – some laid as diagonal and others straight is really taking shape to echo the Victorian pattern. It is painstaking work, with much levelling and cutting and in the corner where the servery will be, they are mixing up limecrete rather than more tasty dishes. The first of the floor ledgers is now in place by the south door , carefully positioned at the right depth so as to be level with the stone when laid around it.
A whole range of people continue to be very generous givers, and yet we need still more! This is an old building and we are still finding problems that we could not possibly have imagined. The structural engineer has now fully investigated why the pulpit base had such a large crack from a small knock. It had been constructed partly on top of a floor memorial stone. Not surprisingly when the stone was knocked the pulpit moved. Thank you to everyone who is giving to the appeal, to the chairs, the organ and the main appeal. Please help us get there quickly – details of how to donate are on our web site.
Although the building itself is closed, worship continues in The Cornerstone on Sundays (8, 9.30 and 11.15am) and on weekdays (Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 am and Thursday at 9 am) and the bell ringers will have access to the tower again. There is still access to almost all the churchyard either through the lychgate in London Road or the double gate in Norreys Avenue. The memorials by The Cornerstone and by the vestry door can be accessed by arrangement with the Parish office.
