We have had a huge amount of help from our church community along with finding some fantastic contractors who have been so far involved in the project. With the internal clear out I have been really thankful to a group of people who have volunteered huge amounts of time to demolition:
Its been great fun and hard work. I would love to have the opportunity to shout out to my team. Thanks to Arnie, Eric, Waletti, Jason, Mo, Foad, Arrash for their help in the internal clear out. I was also really touched that my Dad decided to come up from West Sussex with his team over the course of a few days to help with some of the more technical aspects of the demolision. Thanks Martin, Guy and Craig! More recently Behnam for all your super help on cutting down the internal metal work and helping me out with the turret. Also big shout of to Jim and Mo who have helped me with getting some lights up in the bell tower ready for when we get the rewiring done in the building.
One of the things we do really well as a church is welcome and hosting. I think its a factor we often take for granted but it really is a gift. Aunty Surjit has on many occasions cooked lunch for anyone on site. So far we have had the scaffolders, some of the Roofers, my Dad and his team, along with a lot of lovely and well deserved lunches for my volunteer demolition team. Here are a few happy photos of some of the lunches. Welcoming people in, feeding them and spending time has been a great way to share a little about who we are as a church.
Finding our roofing company Netley Abbey Roofing has really been an answer to prayer. Juan and his team including Colin, Dave and Ray have been fantastic. Juan has really helped us out with fantastic ideas and even saved the day more than a few times by helping us out when things have not quite gone according to plan. Its been really fun having them around and they will be really missed when the roof is complete. We have also felt really blessed to have found Mike and his team from MRH scaffolding, Ben and his team at Ridon Glass and Russell who really did save the day with the stonework at 1st Master Wall Ties. God has really provided us with a great team.
Leaving you with a little picture of Behnam and I sitting on the roof after finally bird-proofing the turret! What a great view from the top roof over St Mary’s and the city we serve.
WHAT’S HAPPENING NEXT?
The roof work will be continuing, after the top roof they will be starting work on the chancel roof and then eventually dropping the scaffold down to a lower level to start work on the lower wing roofs. While the scaffold is up we are going to address the stone work damage on this upper level along with getting some new windows replaced. After some advice and quite a few quotes it looks like a double glazed window will not only be economic but also environmentally the best option. Now we have managed to get to the top of the scaffold we have seen the poor state of the stonework on the roof of the bell tower. This is going to need addressing with some additional scaffolding and some stonework.
WHAT’S HAPPENING NEXT?
The roof work will be continuing, after the top roof they will be starting work on the chancel roof and then eventually dropping the scaffold down to a lower level to start work on the lower wing roofs. While the scaffold is up we are going to address the stone work damage on this upper level along with getting some new windows replaced. After some advice and quite a few quotes it looks like a double glazed window will not only be economic but also environmentally the best option. Now we have managed to get to the top of the scaffold we have seen the poor state of the stonework on the roof of the bell tower. This is going to need addressing with some additional scaffolding and some stonework.
PRAYER POINTS
PRAYER POINTS
- Safe and uncomplicated progress on the Roof replacements.
- For the quick manufacture of the windows for the upper levels.
- For the work which requires the scaffold to be completed as quickly as possible to reduce down the hire costs.
- Safe and uncomplicated progress on the Roof replacements.
- For the quick manufacture of the windows for the upper levels.
- For the work which requires the scaffold to be completed as quickly as possible to reduce down the hire costs.