Changes to make St James’ church a more flexible, functional space – which include building a lady chapel and removing the organ – have been announced by the parochial church council.
The proposals for the Victorian building would see the current vestry and sacristy at the side of the chancel converted to a single chapel, complete with accessible entrance and disabled toilet. The flat roof will need to be replaced – it currently leaks – and the electrics will have to be brought up to modern standards.
The chapel will provide a space for small services or quiet prayer during times when the church is being used for other activities, and will also be available for community groups to use. It will also serve as a better ‘green room’, enabling more plays and concerts to be put on in the church, which will help to generate income.
With the organ – which is rarely used and in poor condition – removed and replaced with an electronic keyboard, the space it currently occupies will be turned into a new sacristy, with two levels of space above for storage.
Other changes involve moving the font, to make way for an access ramp from the main floor of the church to the chancel, and repurposing the pulpit to create a cupboard to conceal improved sound equipment to better serve those with hearing difficulties.
The plans are the third phase of works in the church, which have seen a kitchen, office and toilet built at the High Street end of the building, along with the removal of the pews and the construction of an accessible entrance. Besides the work just announced, future plans include moving the back wall of the chancel forward to create meeting rooms and storage.
“These changes will declutter our church,” said Brightlingsea vicar, the Rev. Caroline Beckett. “We will have a snug, simple, cosy space for prayer in the daytime and meetings of community groups in the evening and be able to accommodate small groups without worrying about big heating costs.”
She added: “During the day time, lots of people value being able to light and candle and pray or just spend some time in quiet. A dedicated space for this, with easy disabled access from the car park, will meet the need for quiet while still enabling the main part of the building to be used for our toddler groups, stay and play sessions, funerals, weddings, baptisms, special services, Saturday coffee, choirs, youthwork, clubs and community events.”
Not being as ancient as All Saints’, St James’ doesn’t qualify for as many grants to cover the cost of the work. Some money has been gifted so far, and the PCC will now begin actively rundraising for the rest.
“We want to do more, not less, for our community and we do not want to start charging for the things we currently offer free,” said Rev. Beckett. “So we are calling on your generosity –time, money, help, prayer and support.”
