Most of those consulted thought that accommodation within the Church confines for Sunday School Groups, weekday organisations and pastoral work was inadequate and would not sustain the Church’s work into the new century. Additionally, our current facilities mean that we are increasingly unable to meet the requirements of various provisions of recent pieces of legislation covering Disability, Health & Safety and Child Protection.
After negotiations with English Heritage the current plans were agreed by all relevant parties. These have now been approved by the Diocesan Advisory Committee and Brentwood Borough Council Following the tendering process the contract for the building work was awarded to Noble & Taylor (Ongar) Ltd. and the actual work started on 1st March 2010.
There will be one large meeting room (roughly the same size as the south aisle of the Church from the entrance door to the Memorial Chapel) which will be able to be split into two or three smaller rooms, one of which can again be further subdivided.
Each of the three main rooms will have access to toilets and its own entrance/exit. There will be four toilets, one of which will have disabled and baby-changing facilities.
The kitchen will provide modern facilities to enable us to cater for a variety of needs, whilst there will be more storage than at present, including dedicated storage both for the Verger and the Sanctuary Guild. And, of course, the whole building will be built to the latest environmental standards.
The original project also recommended some work at the West End to improve current facilities, which have changed little since the original Choir Vestry was dismantled 30 years ago after the current extension was built. This scheme will provide a screen at the base of the Tower, together with additional storage and display facilities. Detailed plans are currently under discussion.
