Suckley Church Proposed Reordering

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UPDATE - OCTOBER 2011

Feedback and ideas are still being awaited from one of the architects. The PCC thanks those who have given their personal thoughts and ideas, is keen to hear other people's thoughts, and continues to actively seek out ideas, advice and possible sources of funding. Another public meeting will take place when more information is available. Watch this space for details.


OUR CHURCH AND THE COMMUNITY

If Suckley church is to remain viable at the heart of our lovely village, then we have to adapt to the needs of our community today.

When the church was built there was a large thriving congregation. Today the costs are much higher and the congregation who has to pay those costs is much smaller.

The church has to comply with the needs of the 21st century. It is no longer acceptable to be without running water, or toilets.

We hope to embark on a major reordering project, enabling our church building to become more useful and to produce more income to maintain the fabric of the church. We then expect it to return again to where it used to be - at the thriving heart of village life. We hope to link up with the school, be able to run concerts, hire out the space for wedding receptions and set up 'Flix in the Stix' using an up-to-date sound system. Have you any other ideas?


COSTS AND FINANCE

Suckley church barely breaks even with the current running costs. We have to use the deposit account for 'one-off' maintenance costs such as re-wiring, asbestos surveys, lightening conductor tests, and so forth. The repairs to the tower alone cost £68,000. These costs cannot be met in the future simply by those who attend the church, so we have to secure other sources of income.

The current situation is unsustainable and the church is in grave danger of closure if we do nothing now.

The Church income can finance 'spiritual' costs - for example the vicar's costs from collections, donations, fees for weddings and funerals - and it will continue to do so.

The costs of the proposed reordering project we think will be approximately £200,000. We hope the funds will come mainly from the lottery and charitable funds.


SCHOOL

Some statutory aspects of the school curriculum are currently not being provided as our school does not have a school hall.

A reordered church could provide space for:

• PE and dance
• school assembly
• drama and music on stage
• extra learning space
• a meeting room
• an enhanced audio-visual system

It could also provide a space to operate school meals using a modern kitchen.

The school's current use of the church is limited due to layout and cold, dim conditions. The reordering of the church would strengthen Suckley School as a viable school which is growing rapidly. It would also provide better space for joint school/community events that can attract over 70 people.

We see a future by working together with the school to provide them with the space that they need for their expanding activities and we believe this partnership could provide an income stream of about £6,000-£7,000pa.


PRE-SCHOOL

Suckley Pre-school is currently housed in a private house and this wonderful facility may not always be available. One idea so far is that a room for the pre-school could be developed in the vestry, which already has its own outside door.

Close proximity to the primary school improves links to the pre-school. The pre-school could enjoy some of the facilities of the primary school, for example outside space and forest school.


Please contact Anne Lewis and/or Diana Holloway with any further questions, ideas, or offers of help. You can do this by sending an email via the contact page of this website.

Alternatively, you can write to:
The PCC, St John the Baptist Church, Suckley, Worcestershire, WR6 5DE

(This page will be updated with future plans made following the open meeting held on 8 June 2011.)

These are some photographs of reordered churches that we have visited :

 

      
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