Facilities




Redevelopment project

       

Stratford-upon-Avon Methodist Church

Redevelopment Project

church premises picture

Building for the Future For All the Community

The scheme will update our 1950’s designed premises for the second decade and beyond of the 21st century, it will include the refurbishment of the Church building and replacement of the old annexe at the rear. We are planning a new building with outdoor soft play area and better indoor facilities to replace the old temporary building.

What needs to be done

annexe


To have better equipped premises for  our outreach programmes, particularly for young families

To provide a better meeting place for local community groups

To improve accessibility for disabled, young families and the elderly as well as better amenities and catering facilities for users

To create a warm and comfortable environment which will uplift the spirit and provide the community with better and more innovative premises

In addition we are seeking to create a greener suite of premises by replacing the old heating system with more energy efficient boilers using controlled programmable timers and reducing heat loss and energy waste from the building by replacing old window frames with energy rated windows

Some of the many Activities at our church

  • Holiday at Home
  • Wesley’s activities for Toddlers and Children
  • Stratford College Overseas
  • Students Oriental New Year’s Party

Proposed Finances Total Cost of £1.125m


Proposed funding
 Amount
From our own congregation - Fund Raising & Gift Aid £400,000
From our own congregation  - Other resources
 £225,000
From Methodists Grants £150,000
From Grants and Trusts £350,000
TOTAL £1.125,000




If you would like more information or you can help us in any way, please

email:  TuckeyB@AOL.com

Registered Charity No.SI 2002/1598

Statement of need

Our vision

  • To share the good news of Jesus Christ with those around us.
  • To provide a well equipped building for worship and community need accessible to all.

Our need

The building of Stratford-on-Avon Methodist Church was opened in 1964. It has provided good facilities for church worship and community activities and it has been well used by various groups in the local community throughout the week. However, there has been no major alteration or improvement since 1964 and the building is no longer up to modern standard.
  •   The worship area seating arrangement is not flexible for different kinds of worship nor for community activity. It can not be expanded for a bigger congregation nor be used as an extension of the main hall.
  • There is no common entrance for the worship area and the rest of the building and no common corridor for all facilities.
  • there is no proper welcome area and meeting point for all users.
  • The annexe used for the Wesley Baby and Toddlers Group and other users is a 1939 temporary building requiring high maintenance and is not linked up with the main building.
  • The facility for disabled people to enter the building is inadequate.
  • The toilet facilities for ladies and babies are not sufficient particularly when we have big gatherings.
  •  The kitchen facility is good but its access to the main hall is inadequate.
  •  The heating system is not energy efficient as the boiler is about 20 years old and the heating control in different parts of the building is very poor because the loop of piping is under a concrete floor. As all the outside windows and doors are single glazed and not draught-proof, the heat loss is high.
  • There is no ceiling insulation in the building.

Our plan

We plan to redevelop our premises in order to provide more flexible facilities for worship and community activities.

(1) A welcoming church.


  • There will be a common entrance for the whole building with ramped access for wheelchair users.
  • There will be a spacious area in the new Welcome Foyer with refreshment facility.
  • A new common corridor leading to all facilities in the building.

(2) A versatile and inspiring worship area.

future worship area





















  • With removable chairs instead of fixed pews, the worship area can be used for different functions.
  •  The new folding doors will enable the worship area to be enlarged and linked up to the main hall (Activity Room 1) as required. Social activity in the hall can also extend to the worship area creating a bigger space for fairs or exhibitions.
  • The new corridor between the worship area and the Activity Room 1 will make the sanctuary more visible.
  • The demolition of the vestibule and replacement of the existing entrance by 4 windows will also make the worship area more visible from outside and in harmony with the rest of the building. This alteration will make the common entrance more prominent.

(3) A safer place for family and children.

  • Replacing the 1939 annexe with a purpose-designed building linking up with the main building by the new corridor and the Welcome Foyer.
  • The new room will provide better and safer facilities for families.
  • A new outdoor secure soft play area for children linking to the new room.
  • Covered area at the side entrance of the new room will be used for pushchair parking.

(4) A more useful place for the community.

  • An enlarged kitchen with better layout of the catering facility.
  • Better access from the kitchen to the main hall by installing double doors
  • The new refreshment facility in the Welcome Foyer will not only replace the small kitchen for the lounge but also improve our refreshment facilities for other activities in that part of the building.
  •  The main toilet rooms will be enlarged with added and improved toilet facilities and will be of particular benefit for ladies, baby changing and disabled users.
  • The small kitchen next to the lounge will be converted to extra toilet facilities.

(5) A greener building.

  • The new heating system consisting of an energy-efficient boiler and new area controlled radiators will provide more selective heating in different parts of the building.
  • The heat loss from the building will be cut down further by replacing all windows and doors with energy-rated ones.
  • Ceiling insulation in both worship area and the activity room 1 will cut down the heat lost further.