Forward Momentum Newsletter Issue 15 October 2025

Renovation Update:

Bricks, bricks and more bricks! Weeks and weeks of them. Rather like with the scaffolding work, this final layer to the floor is a BIG job. From carefully levelling the sand bed to shaping bricks to fit around ancient stonework, every brick is placed by hand with patience and precision. There are six different heights of bricks and not all are the same shape. The work is both painstaking and beautiful. Chris and Kevin, our bricklayers, have been on their knees every day. Whilst not in prayer, the beauty that they are creating certainly inspires it! With the nave almost completed, bricklaying work has now begun in the chancel.

Activity Update:

In August, we were delighted to welcome Helen to The Way Forward project team as our new Volunteer and Training Coordinator. With her wealth of experience, enthusiasm and natural flair for bringing people together, she’s hit the ground running! Volunteering herself elsewhere in the community, Helen truly understands what it’s like. We’re thrilled to have her on board!

Kneville the Benevolent Knight

We enjoyed taking part in Stebbing’s scarecrow competition. We didn’t win but there were some fantastic creations all over the village. Kneville was a team effort. Richard our ecologist and Caroline our historian put Kneville together. Esther and Sarah gave him a face and a few embellishments. He finally had some boots, which Helen managed to find!

 Kneville should have been on display at Stebbing’s Village Fayre but bad weather meant the event was cancelled.  Instead, Sarah, Esther and Helen attended the Friday market where along with other stall holders, there was an opportunity to sell the lavender bags we had made and enjoy some great conversations and volunteer recruitment. Several folk signed up to “adopt a tree”; these will be planted in the church car park on 29th November and individuals will be able to enjoy seeing the trees and shrubs flourish in years to come. 

Brilliant Bug Builders

We held back this newsletter so we could share news from our event on Saturday 4th October — but in the wake of Storm Ana, the strong winds had other ideas! Our Brilliant Bug Builders afternoon has been postponed to Saturday 25th October, and we’re hoping for calmer skies and plenty of families joining the fun.

Victorian Christmas - Save the Date! 6th December, 4-6pm

We are very excited about this event. Find out more here.

Whilst we anticipate the major restoration work to be completed sometime in November, there will still be lots of things that need to be done to complete the reordering. We hope to be back in the building in the first quarter of 2026. Plans for reopening will be published in due course.