It’s been an exciting few months on site at St Michael le Belfrey!
The ground level has steadily been excavated, preparing for the in-ground hydraulic baptism pool to be built in the centre of the church, and to make way for underfloor heating (!) and the new flooring. This was a huge job as meant shifting a lot of rubble, always carefully overseen by archeologists who stepped in whenever something - anything! - was found. There were a lot of burials and ledger stones which needed to be sensitively moved - the ledger stones will be conserved and re-laid in the new floor, many of them not having been seen since Victorian times.
The baptism pool has come on in leaps and bounds! First an enormous pit had to be dug, reaching across the whole of the width of the central nave at first. There were several layers of brick vaults which needed to be dismantled, before a timber frame could be built for the concrete: first the base, large and square, followed by the walls of the baptism pool and it’s small, underground engineering room. These are now set, and give us a clearer picture of how the pool will look in the space - a perfect circle at the heart of the church, laid within stonework in the shape of a Celtic cross. The mechanics can now be installed, creating a floor/cover which will move up and down thanks to a hydraulic mechanism, allowing for much greater accessibility to baptism. It’s going to be a beautiful sight when in use, and a meaningful and important addition to the worship space. Want to be part of making it happen? Support and share the crowdfunder here!
Most recently, the new walkway has been created from SMLB into the adjoining 12 Minster Yard, our Parish Centre and offices. This will make a big difference in connecting what’s happening in the church - worship, events or simply being open to the public - with what can be facilitated in the Parish Centre - kids & youth groups, meetings, pastoral support and admin. There will be another piece of engineering here to facilitate improved accessibility: a flex step, which will enable wheelchair users to move between the buildings (no more going outside in the rain!).
Thank you for your continued support and prayers for Impact. There’s still lots more to come, and we’re beginning to plan and look forward to returning to our church home!