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Parish Review Day
A Parish Review Day was held in 2001 at the (then) Cleadon Village Junior School (now Cleadon Village C of E Primary). Everyone who was there agreed that
· The links between church and community should be strengthened
· We should reach out more into the community to meet local needs
· Our buildings should be more “user-friendly”.
Following the Review, and further discussions involving members of all the congregations, these views were endorsed and some other important objectives were added:
· The church desperately needed its heating system to be renewed
· More circulation space was needed at services and for other occasions
· The church building needed to be made accessible, to comply with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.
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The Vision for All Saints
 "The Vision for All Saints" means the whole project, from the new heating (Phase 1) right through to furnishing the finished Cloister (Phase 2)
"The Cloister" is the name for the extension to the church, once it has been built. Please see Open Doors Update below.
"Open Doors" describes in a nutshell the aims of Phase 2 of the Vision project, as a result of the Parish Review Day.
Vision Timeline
Phase 1 of the Vision project dealt with our immediate need to be warm and comfortable. In 2002 the church building was rewired and the sound system was upgraded. £9,000 was raised by the congregations in order to carry out this work.
In 2003 the PCC voted to renew the heating system and build an extension onto the south side of the church. A new fund was set up to pay for this work and Barbara, Lady Chapman MBE, became its Patron. The church architect was appointed.
In summer 2004 underfloor zoned heating was installed in the church, the pews were refurbished and a new oak floor laid. The congregation raised over £80,000 for the work, which took twelve weeks. The fruits of Phase 1 of the project are now enjoyed by all who come into All Saints'. A Steering Group* was established to oversee Phase 2 - the Open Doors Project.
In 2005 the architect produced a plan for the church extension to a brief based on specifications by the PCC and a range of views and suggestions. The plan received support from the Bishop and the Diocese, and was formally approved by the local authority Planning Department and English Heritage. Surveyors priced the project at £360,000.
*Steering Group members are: Jackie Gregory, Robert Barnes, Robina Lawson, Cathy Barnes and Revd Rosemary Nixon (retired as Vicar of All Saints' 31st August 2007) |
The Open Doors Project
 Phase 2 of the Vision for All Saints'
In 2003 the PCC agreed, on behalf of the congregation, to build an extension to the south side of the church [pictured left] that would address the remaining objectives. This phase of the Vision project is called "Open Doors". Plans for the extension [working title the "Cloister"] were drawn up after consultation with the congregations and the cost of the work estimated at £360,000, to include building, installations, furnishings and all related fees.
Clearly, a project of this size can only be achieved with the help of grant-aid. A number of applications have been made to charitable trusts for support funding. Without promises of external funding to cover the costs, the Cloister cannot be built. |
What's the Cloister for?
· A new building attached to All Saints’ Church, the Cloister will provide an attractive, accessible space for anyone in the community to drop in, meet others and have refreshments.
· It will be used by small groups, and will provide a listening post for those who need someone to talk to.
· The Cloister will be a focal point for volunteers, resources and information.
· All Saints’ Church is a warm, attractive building but has limited social space. The Cloister will create a new space for refreshment, encounter and conversation.
· The Cloister will provide a pleasant space at concerts in church, during festivals, school events, funerals, weddings and baptisms.
· It will be run by volunteers, led by an appointed manager with overall responsibility for administration and development.
· According to Government statistics, Cleadon has the highest number of elderly carers in South Tyneside. The Cloister facility will offer support to these people.
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Why is the Cloister needed?
The Cloister would serve the needs that were identified during and following the Parish Review Day: our need to be warm (literally!) and welcoming, our need to provide a space for activities that serve both church and community, to help build bridges between the two, our need to have more space for use before and after services, and for other purposes such as study groups, festivals, exhibitions and concerts together with our need to have a fully accessible church building that meets the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.
Responses to consultations in Cleadon and more widely revealed
· evidence of social isolation in Cleadon, found amongst both the elderly and the young. A well managed facility such as the Cloister will help to alleviate this problem.
· Local agencies such as Age Concern and Social Services have shown interest in the project, since it offers the kind of reflective space needed for their work.
· The concept of a Cloister Coffee Shop has received resounding support in village surveys to date.
· Younger respondents have spoken of their need for an after-school place.
· Older respondents have spoken of their intention to use the Cloister “for company”.
Several of those who took part in the survey expressed a desire to help run the Cloister as volunteers.
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What will the Cloister look like?
The original design outlined here is to be modified. Please see Open Doors Update.
The high specification design uses stone as well as glass and will be in keeping with the existing church building. It is hoped that enough money can be raised to incorporate the ugly 1960s vestries into the new extension.
The Cloister will be accessed by an illuminated ramped pathway from Cleadon Lane. It will include
· A new canopied entrance on the west side
· A pitched slate roof, linking to the existing roof at the south wall.
. Stone buttresses with glass in between
· Wooden louvers to provide shade
· A new south door to enjoy the south facing garden
· Attractive tables and chairs overlooking the garden
· A quiet play area for children
· Full accessibility for people with mobility difficulties
· Accessible toilets and baby changing area
· Access into the church
· Display area for local exhibitions, e.g., photography
· New information boards
· Books and local information
· Servery, store and washing up area
· Administrative area
· Lobby with space to hang coats and store prams, buggies and wet umbrellas
· Seating in the garden
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How are funds being raised?
Since fund-raising for the Cloister began there have been three main strands:
Direct Giving
Members of the church have committed themselves to regular direct giving over a period of four or five years.
Special Events
Since 2003 many different fund-raising events have been held, including: Auction, Buffet Suppers, Ceilidhs, Celebrations, Coffee Mornings, Fashion Shows, Fun Nights, Jazz Nights, Open Garden, Race Nights, Soup 'n' Roll Lunches, Sponsored Walks and Summer Draw.
Grant Applications
Applications to trusts including the Sir James Knott Trust, the Joicey Trust, Central Church Fund and Allchurches Fund have met with success.
Fund-raising for the Cloister continues towards the target of £360,000, and currently stands at £150,000.
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How can I help?
Here are just a few ideas.....
Pray: for the success of the project, for funds to be found to finance it, and for those more closely involved to have the energy to see it through
Take part in fund-raising: attend a special event, make a one-off donation or longer-term committed giving if you choose
Prepare for the activities that will go on in the Cloister: What groups might want to use it? What furniture will be needed? How might we run, staff and stock a coffee shop?
Tell your neighbours about the project, so that everyone in the village is looking forward to its completion
Want to know more? E-mail cleadonallsaints@gmail.com to be put in touch with a member of the Steering Group
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Open Doors Update*
It became apparent during 2007 that funding the project at £360,000 was going to be difficult. The Lottery application of March 2007 was turned down in August and the Parochial Church Council carried out the review in January 2008, which had been agreed in January 2007.
The PCC, after its review, elected a new committee of 9, comprising officers and members of the PCC and members of the congregation. It agreed to pursue the objectives of the original scheme within the funds available.
This committee has met four times in each of February, March, April and May, including a visit from the Diocesan Advisory Committee. The most recent meeting was to deliver to our architect a Statement of Needs, which has been agreed by the PCC, the decision making body.
Since the start of the original project the Infant School Dining Hall [renamed The Old School Room] has been returned to parish ownership. This has provided an additional opportunity to serve local needs and this is being investigated to find a way to achieve further progress.
The Statement of Needs is shown below
· Provision of disabled access to the Church
· Provision of disabled toilet facilities within the Church
· Provision of a reception/meeting area attached to the Church that will also serve as a reflective meeting place
· Provision for essential Vicar and Choir vestry requirements such as safes, robes, storage cupboards, sink and risograph
· Provision of additional social space for village and wider use in the Old School Room
We are meeting the architect in late June to receive his proposals to meet these needs within the budgetary constraints.
It is my hope that this new design will incorporate a larger useful floor area than the last design, and my belief that it will satisfy all the original objectives and overcome the reservations expressed in the earlier stages of the project.
Whilst it is difficult to produce a timetable at the moment, it is perfectly feasible that building can commence in early 2009. The Committee and PCC are committed to the satisfactory completion of this opportunity to improve the facilities to our congregation and the wider community of Cleadon.
Bill Grant
Chairman
Open Doors Committee
*From Cleadon Courier June 2008
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