6 mins
21st century churches
MOTHERWELL SOUTH
John Maddock was the Convener of a project to build a new sanctuary for a community church.
Motherwell South Parish Church was born on January 1 2007 following the union of two local congregations. In 2010 a new group – the Development Committee – was formed by the Kirk Session with the aim of providing the congregation with buildings which were fit for the 21st century and also with much-needed space to accommodate all of the congregational activities.
It had always been the wish of the Kirk Session to develop a Community Church – ‘a church which was at the heart of the community and had the community in its heart’. The vision was to serve the needs of everyone in the locality (where there are few community facilities), to provide modern buildings to meet both these community needs and the needs of the congregation, to ensure a warm welcome, a supportive community, friendship, care and concern and to place God in the midst of our community. It was vitally important to ‘sell’ the vision to the congregation right from the start, so updates were provided regularly after services and in the parish magazine.
The aim was to provide a modern extension to, and refurbishment of, the existing buildings, with bright, flexible, well-equipped and welcoming spaces. A variety of modern church buildings across Scotland were visited to provide inspiration and ideas and to learn about the possibilities and pitfalls.
A professional community survey was commissioned to ascertain people’s views in the parish. The results of the survey and sections on the mission of the congregation were written into a business plan – an essential part of any project of this type.
The initial plans to both extend and refurbish proved unaff ordable, so a phased scheme was drawn up and the revised plans included a new-build sanctuary to seat 230, with café/welcome area, a full catering kitchen, office and toilets. Once the new-build was complete, the existing sanctuary would be converted into additional hall and storage space.
Work started on site in February 2015, the new buildings were handed over by the contractor in December 2015 and consecrated at a very special service in February 2016 when the new minister of Motherwell South, the Rev Alan Gibson, was inducted to the charge.
The final cost was just under £1m. Various congregational resources and fund-raising provided around £334,000. The congregation dug deep into their pockets to raise £307,000 by direct giving (either by donation or pledging over four years) and also donated all of the chairs for the new sanctuary. The committee researched over 80 potential grant funders, applied to 55 and were successful in 16, raising £310,000. Bridging loans were needed to cover cash flow prior to grant awards being paid and future congregation fund-raising and payment of pledges. These loans were provided by the General Trustees and congregation members and all were paid off by 2018.
Since the opening of the new buildings there has been a very significant increase in footfall during a typical week, with all of our youth organisations now able to meet in the buildings and many local organisations using the premises for lets. The resulting increase in income allowed early repayment of loans. The Tuesday Coff ee Morning, originally started as a fund-raising venture, has now become a local institution, with well over 100 people attending, now occupying all of the café and sanctuary area and fulfilling an important social purpose for the community as well as the congregation. The new buildings and new minister have also helped attract a number of young families and others to Sunday worship, with some ‘special’ services requiring seating to be extended into the café area.
The congregation has now turned its attention to a rebuild of the last section of the ‘old’ buildings which has not yet been refurbished. This should change an unwelcoming area of dark, narrow corridors and small rooms into an open-plan area of the same standard as our new build.
ST ANNE’S CORSTORPHINE
The Rev Jamie Griggs and clerks at Edinburgh: St Anne’s, explain the process of upgrading the halls at the church.
Having started life as ‘The Tin Kirk’ in 1903, on May 25 1912, the foundation stone for the magnificent building of St Anne’s Parish Church, Corstorphine, was laid. The Sanctuary, with associated vestry, meeting room, small hall, kitchen and toilets was completed in 1913. In the 1930s, a new large hall and extension to the original ‘core’ was built. Since then various upgrades to the kitchen and toilet facilities had been made. However, by 2015 these facilities were tired and inadequate and did not meet health and safety or disability access standards. A major upgrade was required to bring the facilities into the 21st century. The Sanctuary would also benefit from improved lighting, draught screening and gathering space.
Motherwell South Parish Church
St Anne’s Parish Church, Corstorphine
Following the sale of our satellite halls in Belgrave Road in March 2015, the progress of planning a programme of refurbishment of the central core of our buildings, with minor changes to the Sanctuary, finally began. The planned changes to a Grade A listed building brought with them a significant process of permissions and approvals.
Once the necessary teams were set up and discussions in full swing, architects were appointed and plans drawn up, working with the limited available space and to an agreed budget. We do not underestimate the challenges this presented. With fundraising well underway, contractor selected and contingency plans in place, work commenced in February 2017, setting up outside toilets and the office in portacabins, completely sealing off the Sanctuary from the main hall and starting the required demolition work in the central area.
For the next nine months our loyal, supportive, long-suff ering congregation continued to attend on Sundays and traipse round to the hall for after service coff ee, where photos of what was happening behind the scenes were displayed.
The final costing of the project came in just under £1 million – somewhat higher than had been anticipated. However with hard work and dedication we reached our target, the main finances coming from the sale of Belgrave Halls, the financial commitment of the congregation, Development Appeal Fund, a contribution from the Legacy Fund, funding from various grants and VAT refunds from Listed Places of Worship.
The project was completed within budget and on time.
We have gained smart new toilet facilities with disability provision, a large modern kitchen, separate flower arranging room, separate vestry and office provision, a welcoming new entrance with eff ective circulation space, wheelchair access to all areas, upgraded rooms providing comfortable, flexible meeting spaces, improved heating, sound, lighting, IT facilities and security system, and a Sanctuary suitable for use as a concert venue.
We are extremely proud of our beautiful new facilities, and if others are considering such a project it is well worth the eff ort. You must have a clear vision of what you want. Keep in constant communication with the architects and contractors throughout the project and be prepared to make compromises where necessary. Keep your congregation informed of progress with photos and reports. The qualities required of members include faith, determination, patience, hard work, adaptability, volunteering, time and talents.
This article appears in the July 2020 Issue of Life and Work
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