Shanklin United Reformed Church

High Street, Shanklin, Isle of Wight. PO37 6LA
Registered Charity No. 1130459

A member of the Evangelical Alliance

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Building For The Future

What Is It?

Basically, Building For The Future aimed to enhance our fine building to make it more user-friendly for the twenty first century by:

• Providing more up to date and comfortable facilities which are accessible to everyone.

• Creating flexible space which will allow better use to be made of the building.

• Making the frontage and lobby area more open and welcoming.

• Adding further rooms to accommodate our growing needs.

This seemed to be a daunting task but we believed that God has lead us forward with this project.

The Journey So Far

It has been a long journey seeking what God wants us to do with the building:

• 1997 - A Vision Workshop was held.

• 2000 - A Feasibility Study was undertaken with support from URC Wessex Trust, who have been involved at all stages.

• The present plans gradually came together as the challenges of the limited space were considered with the architect, Keith Loveless.

• Days of Prayer have been held so we have continued to seek God’s will at each stage.

• September 2001 - a Church Meeting decided in principle to go ahead with the building plans, knowing that this would be a huge challenge.

• January 2003 - saw planning permission being granted for the external changes.

• November 2003 - there was a most encouraging response at our Gift Day.

• Autumn 2004 - we took the decision to phase the project so as to take steps forward.

• Spring 2005 - Building For The Future became a reality with the completion of Phase 1; replacing the pews with chairs and new carpeting.

• Summer 2006 Phase 2 was carried out - a disabled ramp, new front and side doors and new toilets (see pictures below) were installed.

• Spring 2007- the pulpit went.

• Summer 2007 - work on the new staging was carried out.

• Summer/Autumn 2008 - New multimedia facilities are installed – i.e. digital projection and new PA system.

• Summer/Autumn 2009 - New upstairs kitchen installed and refurbishment of downstairs. Carpet and nosings to all the three staircases

• Autumn 2010 - Removal of the pipe organ (to create much needed ground floor storage space for equipment)

• Spring 2011 - Creation of a much needed storage are where the organ used to be

• Summer 2011 - Splitting of the vestry into two rooms; a quiet room and an office.

• Autumn 2011 - New heating system.

At each stage we have felt that God has been leading us forward.

Where We Are Now

The Final Phase, may be possible in 2013/14:

- Re-carpeting and decoration of the main meeting area

 
Compare the artist's impression to the picture below.

The Ramp and New Look Entrance Lobby

(Both photographs below courtesy of, & © 2006, Rev Brian Harley)

The Ramp

The entrance lobby looking from the ramp doors

Compare The Difference Between The Two Pictures!