Christ Church Eccleston - Building for the Future

Dear Friends and members of Christ Church,

First may we say a big 'Thank You' for your recent generosity in response to our "Building for the Future" Harvest Gift Day. As I write, the total stands at around £20,000 excluding the benefits of Gift Aid which will further increase the total, when claimed.

Secondly, although "Building for the Future" is about much more than the Church Spire. gale force winds at the beginning of November have had the effect of moving the problem with the Spire from a maintenance issue to a safety priority.

Therefore we are having to take some immediate action to make the top section of the Spire safe so that we can continue to use the building, without the worry of falling stonework, until we can complete the task of restoring the whole Spire sometime in 2010, funding permitting.

The action we are taking over the next few weeks will involve dismantling the top section of the Spire [about 14 courses of stonework] and removing the weathervane, before temporarily 'capping' the Spire to make it watertight. This should have three effects:

1. It will make the top of the Spire safe.
2. Reduce the cost of the rest of the work because the dismantling involved would have been necessary anyway. So, this work should not add to the cost of our project, but will reduce our anxiety levels until the work can be completed.
3. Allow a closer inspection of the Spire and a better evaluation of the work which will ultimately need to be undertaken.

The upshot of all this is that, from Monday 7th December 2009, you will see Steeplejacks at work on the Spire. The building will still be in use for services of all kinds.

Hopefully, this first phase of work on the Spire will be complete before Christmas.

Please pray for the safety of the Steeplejacks, the building and people using the building.

With love in the Lord,

Bill Forster

6th December 2009

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