MEETING AREA
Having asked the members of the congregation last Sunday to comment regarding re-purposing of some of the pews in church and creating a meeting area in the southwest corner, let me explain the reasons behind this:
- To comply with our agreed task of making better disability access in the church the accessibility audit identified that it was extremely difficult for people with certain disabilities to access the font and the toilet/baby change areas. Removing the rearmost pew and the front pew in the southwest corner would help.
- Moving some pews into the southeast corner of the church, mirroring those in the northeast – facing the Cokethorpe Altar – would improve sight lines.
- Having a warm space in the church would enable us to hold meetings/coffee mornings in church.
- To have an overspill area for seating if the church gets crowded on special occasions.
- From a health and safety perspective, to stop the crowding round the kitchen area after the service, people would be able to gather there without getting in the way of those trying to transport coffee and tea around on trays.
I’ve had various comments about the project since then and the consensus so far is general agreement that it is a good idea but that the timing is too tight. With the Christmas period and all that entails in the church we’ll probably have to put it back to the New Year.
I’ll be in church on Sunday so feel free to let me (or Martin) know your thoughts on this after the 10am Service.
Tricia Hughes
Churchwarden