The chairs selected are Theo-M, which are metal frame, have a wooden back and an upholstered seat. Some chairs will be purchased with arms, to assist those with reduced mobility.

When not in use, the church often seems cluttered and untidy. How will this be addressed?

This project aims to create sensitive storage spaces throughout the building to improve on the management of all the items needed for the wide variety of activities that go on in the church. The project will also allow us to consider what is currently stored in the building, and re-home anything that is not essential.

Who will organise the flexible space, and keep it tidy once the pews are removed?

As with now, arranging the furniture of the church and keeping the building tidy will rely on our amazing team of volunteers, led by our ministry team and churchwardens. St Mary’s relies on volunteers from our community for every aspect of church maintenance, from flower arrangers, to cleaners, to those who lock the church at night. If you would like to help with any part of maintaining our wonderful church, please do contact us.

What will happen to the kitchen and toilet?

The kitchen will be updated with new units and layout. The toilet will remain in the same location. It is not possible to build a new toilet due to building restrictions and whilst the present one is not completely accessible for wheelchairs, it is large enough to accommodate a wheelchair inside the door to then use a mobility frame.  The room will get a makeover and have new sanitaryware fitted.

What will happen to the external fabric of the building?

The external fabric of the building, such as the roof, bell tower, gutters and brick work come under the care of the Fabric Team and external professional support. The church is inspected every five years and a report details the most pressing areas needing repair or attention. The finances for this are raised from the church congregation but going forwards, grant applications will also be made for funding larger repairs, such as the roof.

The floor of St Mary’s may well hide all sorts of things! We know from previous excavations that we will find the rubble from the Victorian reordering, pipework and ducting from various heating systems and lots of sand! The project has a contingency budget for unexpected finds, that should allow us to manage unexpected things below the bricks. All works and excavations will be carried out with an archaeologist on hand, so any part of the church’s history we may uncover will be preserved and documented.

How will the Chancel (altar end) of the church be heated? 

The underfloor heating will stop at the altar rail, so to heat the Chancel fully, the project will retain some radiators in the chancel. The system can happily cope with a mix of radiators and underfloor heating, all powered by a carbon efficient energy source, so this is a fairly simple issue to manage.

How can you be sure that limecrete edging will prevent damp once the floor is relaid?

The final design of the flooring system, and the management of moisture has been completed following a detailed environmental survey, which took place in the autumn of 2019. As with most old buildings, it isn’t possible to completely avoid damp in the church building, but the underfloor heating system selected for this project has been specifically designed to help manage water and ensure that the fabric is protected from further damp related damage.

What about the damp?

Removing the old leaking pipes will help stabilise the moisture in the building. Additional sources of dampness may be identified and dealt with once the surface under the floor is exposed. Once the damp has been resolved, repairs to the paint and plasterwork will be carried out.

Will the war memorial be enhanced and retained?

The war memorial, installed in 1919 and moved to its current location after the Second World War will be retained. The plan is to move the war memorial back to its original home at the end of the north aisle to create a quiet space that mirrors the lady chapel in the south aisle.

How will the ledger stones be removed without damage?

Expert professional contractors with specialist equipment will be handling any fragile or historic component of this project. Previous projects over the last few years have moved ledger stones inside the church, helping us understand the process and plan for it within the project.

What provision will be made for quiet prayer? Could better use be made of the Lady Chapel?

The Lady Chapel will be retained to provide quiet space for prayer and contemplation. Spaces for small groups, study and quiet times will also be available in the chancel.

What is happening to the mediaeval wall painting in the nave?

The wall painting, assumed to be 15th Century, will be carefully conserved by a specialist.

What is happening to the font?

The font will be moved to sit on the east side of the South door, placing it at the entrance of the church, a historically symbolic location to welcome new members into the body of Christ.

Why are the pews being removed?

The pews inhibit movement within the building, particularly for those with restricted mobility, (for example, wheelchair users are unable to sit with family); the pews also hinder existing activities that take place.  We have taken professional advice regarding this matter and the pews are not of "historical value".  The seating in the church has changed over the years; lots of traditional churches, including cathedrals, have removed the pews in favour of seating that can be adjusted according to need.  New, flexible seating will allow accessibility and enhance the services and activities that take place within the church.