St Michael's, Horton

Go to St Michael's Home Page Go to St Michael's Contact Us Page Go to St Michael's Services Page Go to St Michael's Coming Events Page Go to document for Wedding Fees Go to St Michael's History Page Go to St Michael's History Page                              
drawing of proposed tower project THE NEED.
The church is desperately in need of basic facilities in the form of small kitchen, a fully accessible toilet and an activity/meeting room for small groups to use. The church has no church hall or room and the vicarage is outside the parish.
Water required for basic refreshments at present has to be carried from an outside tap in the churchyard.

THE PROPOSALS.
After considerable thought, discussion and consultation, it has been decided to seek to provide these facilities in the lower part of the church tower, utilising the present ground floor level to provide a small kitchen and fully accessible toilet and to insert a new floor above to provide an activity/meeting room for up to 25 people seated. The room would be accessed via a new staircase and a stairlift provided for disabled persons access.

The main arch to the church would be infilled with a large glass screen with etched features and at ground level with timber panelling and access door. The glass screen is an expensive element because of the height required to be enclosed.

The ground floor work would involve repairing the west door to the tower to bring it back into use as an alternative access rather than always needing to access the new rooms via the main church.

The proposals shown on the drawings, have the support of English Heritage. A Faculty has been applied for and seems certain to be approved in the near future.

BENEFITS OF THE PROPOSAL.
Benefits are listed as follows-
  • The church would have new facilities essential to the running of a modern day Church and for the use of the local community. The church would be more user friendly.
  • All the facilities would be fully accessible including for people with disabilities. Suitable access from the main church would be part of the works.
  • A much wider range of activities could be undertaken and services provided.
  • The local community would benefit from these new facilities both as users of the Church and as users of the facilities for other activities as well.
USERS OF THE NEW FACILITIES.
It is anticipated that the following would use the new facilities. Others will probably be added later as the facilities come into use.
  • Mother and toddler group.
  • Youth club.
  • Older people's club.
  • Church use of facilities
  • Church meetings PCC etc.
  • Sunday school.
  • Small local community groups and clubs.
  • Meeting/activity room for the large local Traveller community.
  • Very large Traveller christenings, weddings and funerals.
  • Church visitors - church often open to visitors, the church is Grade I Listed & has connections with John Milton.
  • Conferences & seminars - local and from further afield.
THE COSTS.
The cost of the proposals have been estimated at f 88,000. Architect's fees are estimated at f9000.