Regeneration Project Update....

The font floor is now laid and there is only its final clean and the lime mortar pointing on the outer edge to complete.

The font has been cleaned, in preparation for being put in place on Monday. It was covered in soot from the 1964 fire on one side - this had not been so noticeable before as that side had been facing the wall, but in the new position it would have stuck out like a sore thumb.

The carpenter is arriving tomorrow to begin the final round of his work. This includes installing the new Intercession Request Board, finishing off the works to the wood block flooring and putting in a cork strip around the new York stone paving. He will also be putting up the bracket to hold the image of St Michael the Archangel.

The works to the Chapel and its furnishings should be finished this week. The Tabernacle will be securely fixed to the Gradine (the shelf beneath the Reredos) and next Sunday the Blessed Sacrament will be solemnly restored.

The new Lectern, in memory of Derek Savage, is to be used for the first time today. I hope to have news of the progress on the Icon of St Giles this week.

The Confessional furniture is now in its new position and all that remains is for the wall to be decorated this week in preparation for the Crucifix, left us by Molly Foxley and carved for her by those she was a missionary to in Tanganyika , to be affixed to the wall.

This coming Saturday, 31st January, is a major Scrubology day at St Mary & St Giles as all the works should be complete. The PCC at its meeting last week recorded in the minutes its gratitude to all those who have been cleaning over the last few Saturdays and to all those who did so much in the churchyard earlier in the month.

Bishop Andrew has sent us all the following message after I had sent him photographs of the new font area and explained to him our plans for restoring the Blessed Sacrament to the South Aisle Chapel:
“I am delighted to see progress made on the installing of the beautiful new font area. Adorning the place of baptism and making the focus of Christ’s presence in our midst more evident to worshippers and visitors are important signs of the centrality of the sacraments in our lives: baptised, we are admitted to eternal life; fed by the Eucharist, we are strengthened on the Way. + Andrew.”