Friday, 30th November - Busy, busy

The site is a hive of activity today, and the weather is being kind to us. The gateway has a lovely stone entrance now and work is taking place on preparing the level entrance to the church.

The glass has arrived to glaze the new screen, which will be installed today. A very delicate job! This was measured and prepared in Waller's workshop.

All the woodwork will have three coats of varnish to match the bell tower next week.

The tea-bar units are being installed and being completed so that the interior can be painted on Monday.

The doors to the bell tower are being re-hung, and the toilet is being fitted out.

Thursday, 29th November - be aware!

A warning on the local radio this week is to be alert for anyone stealing metal of any kind. This follows an incident where a young man was seriously electrocuted trying to steal copper from a sub-station recently. Since the theft of the lead from St Mary's Church roof, we all need to keep an eye out in case they return. They will find more than they bargained for this time, however, but please help us by being watchful.

Grading of the path from the road has been done now, ready for the tarmac coat, and the lych gate arch is yet to be replaced.

Work is taking place to start clearing the contractor's compound. The churchyard will look a little untidy until the grass grows back next spring, but will be having some TLC from our churchyard volunteers once the project is finished.

Wednesday, 28th November - Countdown time.

The pulpit is now back in place, ready for the audio wiring and hearing loop to be laid and connected. It's structure was checked before it was re-installed.

Work is continuing on the tea bar and toilet area. The internal walls have been plastered and the tea bar and toilet are being fitted out. The balustrade is now in place, but incomplete.

The internal door has already been shortened, and the external door has been removed for shortening today, to accommodate the new floor level. It will be rehung by the end of the day to ensure the church is secured overnight.

Some of the original tiles have been used in the entrance, around and inside the tea bar, lobby and toilet areas. Recycled blown glass was used for the sub floor and the floor timber is from sustainable forests.

Monday, 26th November - Still on time!

The road works signs were removed today and Main St is back to normal. Tarmac will be put down on the disturbed sections of the path and also at the Station Road entrance to improve the level of the surface for disability access. The old gate post will be removed as it has rotted away, and it will give a slightly wider access.

Fitting out the tea-bar and the toilet will begin this week. The tea-bar will have work surfaces along three sides - one for serving through the hatch, one for the sinks and one for preparation.

The new audio system is being linked up and the new Hearing Loop will be installed later this week

The pulpit is to be placed back in its original location this week.

The oak panelling has now been placed on both sides of the enclosed area and will be finished to match the oak screen in the bell tower.

Saturday, 24th November - New tarmac

The trench has been backfilled and the footpath and road have been re-covered with tarmac. The road works signage will be removed on Monday.

Further tarmac will be placed on the sections of the church path which have been disturbed, especially at the entrance of the church where the section between the inner and outer doors meets the entrance of the church and the new floor level inside.

Adjustments are being made to the church path for a graduated slope now the step has been removed for practical purposes. This will make a smooth path all the way from the road to the church door.

Please note! This does NOT mean that the slope is suitable for disability access. The entrance on Station Road will remain the correct entrance to use.

The contractor is working today and plans to complete installation of the wood floor by Tuesday. Currently, the south section is being worked on, but the nave and bell tower have been laid.

On Friday, the walls in the tea-bar and the lobby/toilet wall were being installed. Small windows will be placed in both the tea-bar and toilet to block off where their walls overlap the church exterior window.

Thursday, 22nd November - Taking shape

The tea-bar and lobby are beginning to take shape now the beautiful, exterior panelling has been installed on the south side. The lobby door has panelling, creating a 'false' door, which matches the rest of the wall, and leads to the toilet.

Work has begun on placing the new oak floor on top of the under floor heating system. Each board is placed separately with a small space between each one allowing for movement, then fixed down.

Severn Trent will be inspecting the finished drainage connection today, after which the trench can be back-filled, and Main Street can get back to normal.

Unfortunately, during excavation, it was necessary to remove the lych gate after all, due to the equipment not being able to work over or through it. However, it will be put back in place, along with the gate when work is finished. Tomorrow, there are plans for tarmac to be laid to finish the surface.

Tuesday, 20th November - laying the timber floor

The under floor heating has been on, helping to thoroughly dry out the floor and testing the system.


The oak timber for the floor is being delivered today and work will start laying it.





The tiling and initial boxing in of the tea bar and lobby are being finished today.

Work continues on the drainage throughout this week until Severn Trent inspects it.

Monday, 19th November - Fitting the screen

Today work has begun on fitting the arch of the new screen which will match the one in the bell tower. The tea-bar and toilet walls are also being put in while the tiling is being finished.

The oak exterior timber to the tea-bar and toilet has been delivered and will be put up this week. This will indicate what the finished product will look like.

At last the final work on the drainage is being done, so outside the church on Main Street, there are some minor roadworks this week. Please be aware that the roadworks are three-way to include Station Road with both directions on Main St.

Thursday, 15th November - Deliveries

The beautiful framework for the new screen has been delivered and is ready to fit in place once the tiling has been done. The tiling of the tea bar, entrance and toilet areas are the priority at present so that those working on the screen and fitting inside can start work.

Monday, 12th November - Reusing the tiles.

Screeding was put down last Friday in the entrance, tea bar and toilet areas ready for the tiles. Work has already started to set them in place.

This screeding covers the under floor heating to ensure these areas are also heated.

The best of the original tiles have been selected, as we are required to re-use them .

You may have noticed that the drainage link to Main St has not been done yet. This is because it has been delayed for another week.

Thursday, 8th November - Testing the system.

The under floor heating system has been laid and pressure tested. Plastic water pipes are laid into an aluminium framework. The system is now working and the church is lovely and warm!

The radiators in the nave have also been switched on and are providing substantial heat, which can be controlled as necessary.

Monday, 5th November - Under floor heating

Work began on laying the wooden battens over the limecrete floor for the under floor heating.

These were covered with insulation leaving an air gap underneath for any moisture to escape.

The electricians are continuing with their first fixing in the teabar and toilet areas.

Thursday, 1st November - It's all happening!

The radiators in the chancel have now been connected to the new heating pipework and are being switched on and tested today.

The joiners are completing the studding work for the tea-bar area and the electrician is doing all the first fixings to the area.

The painting has been finished, except for touching up at the end of the project.

The under floor heating work will begin on Monday Nov 5th, but the Even Heat engineer arrived this morning to install the manifolds ready.

Please note that the completion of the drainage has been delayed by Severn Trent until November 12th.

More updates will follow as changes occur, but may be infrequent over the next couple of weeks.