Building For The Gospel
Why New Buildings?
The Church in the 21st Century should be a welcoming Centre for all the community, both those who are regular worshippers and those who are not. It needs to provide good facilities for the care of babies, young folk, the elderly, and all who come – with coffee bar and welcome area, where people can meet together informally in a pleasant and relaxing environment.
The present buildings, church and halls, are on two sites, 120 yards apart and fall so far short of modern requirements (including even at the most basic level much of the current Health and Safety legislation) that there is an urgency to do something. To close our eyes to it all and do nothing, is not a viable option.
So what property does St Elizabeth’s actually need in order to fulfil the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ to go and make disciples of all nations? On the one hand we could decide to simply deal with the essential basic maintenance of Church and Halls, whilst also upgrading and refurbishing the halls. This option has been professionally costed at £1,360,000 – whilst still leaving the two buildings over one hundred yards apart, and the Church without a crèche, kitchen facilities or welcome area.
On the other hand, because the Select Vestry believes that it is the Lord’s will that witness to the Gospel in the Dundonald area should continue to grow, and that new opportunities to reach those around us will continue to present themselves, we should be, not only addressing the deficiencies in our present buildings, but also going the extra mile – looking to the future – and preparing new modern facilities. Could we not, whilst retaining the beauty of the old, at the same time create a modern flexible Centre, providing accommodation better suited to the present Mission of our Church, as well as allowing for expansion in the future?
The Select Vestry wholeheartedly believes this second option not only meets the present and future needs of St Elizabeth’s, but also represents best value for money. So the Vestry invited Hall, Black, Douglas (Architects) to draw up a proposed plan to meet our requirements - which they did in June 2007.
Architects' Proposal
The proposal is to have a glass-fronted welcome area on the east wall, at the top of the approach from Church Green. From this area, there would be three entrances to the worship area, along the long east wall, with the raised dais straight in front as worshippers enter, from where the Minister will lead services, read and teach the Word of God, and conduct communion services.
Off the welcome area, there will be reception, office and study rooms: coffee bar: toilets and the entrance to the large crèche: a modern kitchen opening to the main hall, which will be suitable for all activities for all ages.
Downstairs, there will be a Youth Centre with halls, an office/meeting room, and a coffee bar, as well as a separate entrance from outside.
After initial revision of their first proposal (in order to lower the cost by £500,000) the Vestry unanimously accepted the revised proposal in November 2008.
In June 2009, the Rector wrote to the parish: “The proposal of a new Church Centre with halls, rooms, office, kitchen and a main meeting area will greatly assist us in being faithful to Jesus Christ’s commission to His church. Jesus asks us to go and make disciples of all nations and we need to be as effective as we can in doing this. The heart of this project therefore is the Gospel, not the buildings. So I want to assure you that, whatever level of support you are able to give to this initiative will be for the growth of God’s Church and ultimately for His glory. It will be an investment with dividends and returns that will last into eternity!”Financing The Project
The Quantity Surveyor costed the whole project (including professional fees and VAT) at £2.4 million.
St Elizabeth’s church family started to plan as to how they could raise this amount - in three distinct parts, each part to be approximately £800,000.
The First part: The Gift Day, 4th October 2009, with Bishop Harold Miller as preacher, launched the ‘Building for the Gospel’ Project. We thank God that almost half a million pounds were given! Although the target of £800,000 was not reached, the Vestry was conscious that God had spoken, through 160 donors, and so the decision was made to go ahead.
The Second part was introduced at a Parish Meeting, 26th November 2009, entitled “Full Steam ahead!” Explanation was given as to how we could give £800,000 pounds in the next 5 years. As we rejoiced that so many members of the parish had contributed to the Gift Day, and so shown their support for the Project, at the same time we were challenged again to consider how much we could pledge to give regularly (by weekly, monthly, quarterly or annual gifts) through envelopes or by Standing Order, throughout the next five years, in order to reach our target.
Since January 2010, pledge cards have begun to come in, and the Architects have been asked to prepare the necessary detailed plans for the whole project. Their planning team will be meeting regularly with our own church planning team many times in the first half of 2010. These plans will then be submitted to the Diocesan Council and the Representative Church Body, for approval, prior to seeking Planning Permission - which may well take place during 2011.
The Third part of the needed finance will include the eventual Sale of the site of the present halls (which might raise £500,000): any grants that we may receive: and various fund-raising events throughout the five year project.