March 2009 Update
At the second AGM on 19th February we were able to celebrate the probability that fundraising is virtually complete!
The invitations to tender have gone out to three companies, inviting their interest in the construction of the gallery and associated works. These should be returned by the end of March, and we will then know the actual cost of the complete Project, and will know whether we can officially draw a line under the Total in the Appeal Fund.
That’s not the end of the work though – in many ways it’s just the beginning.
Much work is being done by Pete Etherington and his colleague Tim Keighley who have been working hard on an interactive audio display system that will fulfil most of the requirements of the Heritage Lottery award, and be a very useful way to display many facts about our church and Church life as well as the Organ, its history and how it works. This was demonstrated (in prototype form) to the AGM and won unanimous approval. We could think of many related uses springing from this computerised system which will be securely housed beneath the gallery, within the new woodwork.
We need to update the History of St Mary’s, and also add a section on the Organ and the Organists and Bob Dibben and John Townend are busy with this right now. We also hope to produce a smaller descriptive leaflet on the Church which visitors can use whilst looking around. This will hopefully describe the objects to be seen within the context of why they are there and what their place or use in worship is, as well as being a historical record of who made them and where they came from.
Roland Gooch has also negotiated a strict timetable for the work which all parties must agree to. So much happens in St Mary’s – especially in Autumn and Winter – that we’ve had to plan very carefully. This means that all the Summer Weddings will have our (old) Organ, but that we will have the temporary Organ for Christmas, with our beloved instrument returning to us in January, with final snagging completed and a handover date of 12th February 2010.
Far from being disappointed, I’m quite looking forward to my last Christmas as Organist being with the temporary Organ, which looks very interesting! It has a very comprehensive specification which will be stimulating and very musical to play!
Meanwhile, we await the Prices from the Contractors, which must be agreed by the PCC and then the contracts can be placed. From the way the Organ is behaving, it’s not a moment too soon.
The plan is that the Organ is removed to the Works at York, beginning on Tuesday
25th August. Construction of the gallery is due to begin at the end of August, being
finished by 20th November. No work will be carried out in Church during December
– there’s too much going on, so there will be a biog tidy up and clean up session
at the end of November. The work on re-
That’s the full story – it’s all about to happen. Who would have thought that in 2 years so much could be achieved. We offer sincere and hearty thanks to all who have been so generous and worked so hard to make this possible.
John and Liz
