Reasons For Reordering

Refurbishing the inside of St.Matthias Church Building

Why did we start thinking about refurbishing?

1. The state of the building.

• I noticed that the carpet was getting threadbare in places, looks unsightly, and felt/feel concerned that it may be getting dangerous. Concerns about inefficient heating.

2. Robin Gamble's visit.

• Robin presented to us the idea of our Sunday services being a shop window, and therefore we should be working on areas of presentation applicable to the non-church visitor
• The shop window approach is about reducing the resistance visitors experience when they come into a church building. They are in effect moving from their familiar cultural surroundings into something which is very different.
• Strange shaped building, with stained-glass windows, strange rituals, language, wooden benches instead of chairs, etc.
• All these differences offer resistance to the visitor which they have to overcome. Yet our mission statement says 'our aim is to be a worshipping community with an open door'.

3. Open Meeting.

We had an open meeting following Robin's visit at which we asked people for feedback, and suggestions that may lead to improving our worship Refurbishing the worship space in the church building was suggested, and most were in favour removing the pews. There were 35 to 40 people present.

4. There are aspects of the building that hinder Welcome and Worship.

Pews: The pews hinder flexibility in worship.

• Movement
• Ability to form small groups etc.
• The pews hinder development in worship.
• The format has always to be forward facing, in lines.
• They restrict visibility.

On Sunday the 24th February children's ministry did an excellent presentation in which they produced a Poster during the course of a very moving song. As is usual with these things at present, a number of people would not be able to see. The same problem is evident with dramas, and the whole range of visual presentations from the front (The visibility issue is linked to the height of the Chancel floor as well. One aspect of proposed reordering is to increase the height of the chancel floor.)

• They restrict fellowship, and the sense of being family.

Notice the pews on the north side of the building. Some of them still have catches which were for the doors that used to be there. They are about individuals, and families, but not about family in the wider sense.

• They are rigid, in straight lines, restrict eye contact with others, and hinder a family feel.
• They are uncomfortable, and therefore draw attention to our bodies/ourselves and can therefore hinder our ability to worship.

Chairs on the other hand

• Can be placed in curved rows facilitating the sense of togetherness, and family.
• Can be used flexibly
• They allow for better a better view of what's happening at the front, as well as allowing eye contact with other worshippers therefore improving our sense of fellowship.
• There will still be a back row for those who want to 'hide' or for visitors who want to suss us out.

Heating: (Lack of)

• This seems to be a non-negotiable to me. We have to do something about the heating.

From October/November – April/May it can be freezing! It can feel colder in the building than outside. The heating is on anything up to 24 hours before a service and often all we obtain is a lukewarm building. We may be seated in the service with coats and gloves on. This hinders freedom of expression worship, and fellowship. If everyone is cold and wrapped up it's all the harder to relax in the love of God. We need to think how this is for a visitor. Why come in and sit on a hard rigid seat, in the cold for 1 ½ hours?

Lack of proper Crèche facilities for children: We are on to it for the short term – planning to use the South Porch (old office), but what about long term?

• As we grow we must have good facilities for families.

The 'can I see what I am coming into' barrier of a visitor coming to the building:

• Into the unknown - Through the main door, into a porch, through inner doors, turn the corner, into the welcome area.

What an improvement visibility would make to a visitor. To be able to see in before getting all the way into the building.

Safety issues: We must establish a safe second exit in case of fire.

Aesthetic issues:

• Allowing the stained glass windows in the Vestry to be seen by using glass instead of solid walls.
• Improving the lighting in the building so we can affect 'mood' during our use of it.
• We have tried these principles out!

We have tested the 'Shop Window' principle already in the work and we have done with the welcome area. New seating, New colour, New carpet, New layout We have had very positive feedback from visitors, some of whom are non-church people. It communicates warmth, welcome, and a positive familiarity for non-church visitors. It speaks of the 'Open Door'.

I realise that there will be concerns about costs, we all have these concerns! It can seem like self-indulgence to do this, 'spending all this money on ourselves'. I believe, though, it is as much about having a building which is accessible to those outside the church - those who haven't yet found a living faith in Jesus but are looking - as about catering for the needs of the present members of St.Matthias. Though our visit to Bridlington was to look at a refurbished building, it made some people do a re-think regarding refurbishing ours. Should we be spending our money on establishing greater links with the community? Should we be focussing on developing the Church Centre and its place as a more community based resource. These are certainly issues that are rightly on our hearts. The issue is one of timing I think. What should we be doing now? Whatever we do it should be our vision, and our values that dictate how we approach this. I have laid out above some of the main issues regarding vision and values to do with refurbishing the Church building. Yours in Christ, Keith.

Related: Church Reordering