Here are the activities we uploaded for Messy Church at Home on 20th June....
Here are the activities we uploaded for Messy Church at Home on 20th June....
Here are the activities we uploaded for Messy Church at Home on 20th June....
SHIRLEY PARISH
KNOWING CHRIST, MAKING HIM KNOWN
So many people say what a wonderful welcome they receive in our churches. That is of course a credit to everyone. But buildings play their part in the welcome we offer as well.
Currently those visiting the St James' Church building have to cross the road to Church House to access refreshments or toilet facilities. This is far from ideal - the road can get very busy, and sometimes other activities are going on in Church House which can make access difficult.
So we're working to upgrade the facilities in St James' - so we can offer even more of a welcome to everyone who comes into the building.
Please read on to find out more about the project - and how you can get involved....
or see below for our latest update.
The Project
We have plans to add a toilet and a small kitchen facility to make it easier to serve teas and coffees and other light refreshments. These will be situated in the South transept (the wider area on the left as you look from the main entrance) – the area where we currently serve refreshments after our Sunday services.
The toilet will be fully accessible and meet all disability requirements. The kitchen will be a ‘cupboard kitchen’ with storage units, work surfaces, a sink and a small fridge, concealed behind doors which can be opened fully when the kitchen is in use.
The construction will be a pod type construction – essentially a “building within the building” which will minimise any structural work.
The plans that our architect has drawn up are here.....
Artist's impression of the pod in place in the South transept, showing the side of the entrance porch on the far left, the side of the toilet in the centre, and the closed doors of the kitchenette unit on the right.
Plan of the pod, again showing the the entrance porch on the left, with the entrance to the toilet facing the cleaners' cupboard, and the layout of the kitchenette.
Drinks and other refreshments will be served from free-standing tables in front of the kitchenette.
Pod Project Update October 2024
Work is scheduled to start on the groundworks on 9th October. Building the drain from the South Transept to the connection at the road should take about 2 weeks but is very dependent on the weather.
We have decided to delay building the pod itself until the New Year to avoid disruption to Christmas Services and events. The Builder has agreed a date of 6th January and the work should be complete in mid February.
We are very grateful to all the people and organisations who have been so generous with their support and made the project possible.
Pod Project Update August 2024
You may have heard the good news that we have reached our fundraising target for the Pod Project. So many people have helped, and we have raised over £60K in just 12 months!
Special thanks to everyone in the Parish who donated or raised funds, to the friends, the PCC, Solihull MBC CIL Fund, the Gimmitt Trust, the Beatrice Laing Turst, The Edward Cadbury Trust, the Benefact Trust, the Garfield Weston Trust, Tudor Grange Academy St James School and several anonymous donors.
Phase 1 of the project, the construction of the drain connection, was completed last week. We now need to work with our architect and builder to plan the construction of the pod itself and the groundworks, laying the drain to the road. The builder has a waiting list, and it is not yet clear when the next phase of works will start. Watch this space!
Grants and donations
We are extremely grateful to everyone who has contributed to this project, including
The Friends of St James
The Grimmit Trust
The Beatrice Laing Trust
The Edward Cadbury Trust
The Benefact Trust
The Solihull MBC CIL Fund.
How can I donate to the project?
Online
Via our secure ‘Give a Little’ page accessed here. You can select one of the options available, or choose you own amount. You will be given the option to Gift Aid your donation if you wish to do so.
By cheque payable to Shirley Parish PCC.
Please place in an envelope labelled “the Pod Project” and hand in to the Parish Office, or post through the Parish Office door. Cash donations may be made in the same way.
Please use the Gift Aid scheme if you pay tax.
Thank you very much.
What's Gift Aid and how do I do it?
Donating with Gift Aid means we can claim an extra 25p for every £1 you give at no cost to you.
If you have not already completed a Gift Aid form for Shirley Parish, please download and complete the form available here and include it with your donation, or post it through the Parish Office door. The registered name of the charity is "The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Shirley."
Gift Aid forms are also available at the back of St James'.
So many people say what a wonderful welcome they receive in our churches. That is of course a credit to everyone. But buildings play their part in the welcome we offer as well.
Currently those visiting the St James' Church building have to cross the road to Church House to access refreshments or toilet facilities. This is far from ideal - the road can get very busy, and sometimes other activities are going on in Church House which can make access difficult.
So we're working to upgrade the facilities in St James' - so we can offer even more of a welcome to everyone who comes into the building.
Please read on to find out more about the project - and how you can get involved....
or click here to go straight to an update.
The Project
We have plans to add a toilet and a small kitchen facility to make it easier to serve teas and coffees and other light refreshments. These will be situated in the South transept (the wider area on the left as you look from the main entrance) – the area where we currently serve refreshments after our Sunday services.
The toilet will be fully accessible and meet all disability requirements. The kitchen will be a ‘cupboard kitchen’ with storage units, work surfaces, a sink and a small fridge, concealed behind doors which can be opened fully when the kitchen is in use.
The construction will be a pod type construction – essentially a “building within the building” which will minimise any structural work.
The plans that our architect has drawn up are here.....
Artist's impression of the pod in place in the South transept, showing the side of the entrance porch on the far left, the side of the toilet in the centre, and the closed doors of the kitchenette unit on the right.
Plan of the pod, again showing the the entrance porch on the left, with the entrance to the toilet facing the cleaners' cupboard, and the layout of the kitchenette.
Drinks and other refreshments will be served from free-standing tables in front of the kitchenette.
Grants and donations
We are extremely grateful to everyone who has contributed to this project, including
The Friends of St James
The Grimmit Trust
The Beatrice Laing Trust
The Edward Cadbury Trust
The Benefact Trust
The Solihull MBC CIL Fund.
How can I donate to the project?
Online
Via our secure ‘Give a Little’ page accessed here. You can select one of the options available, or choose you own amount. You will be given the option to Gift Aid your donation if you wish to do so.
By cheque payable to Shirley Parish PCC.
Please place in an envelope labelled “the Pod Project” and hand in to the Parish Office, or post through the Parish Office door. Cash donations may be made in the same way.
Please use the Gift Aid scheme if you pay tax.
Thank you very much.
What's Gift Aid and how do I do it?
Donating with Gift Aid means we can claim an extra 25p for every £1 you give at no cost to you.
If you have not already completed a Gift Aid form for Shirley Parish, please download and complete the form available here and include it with your donation, or post it through the Parish Office door. The registered name of the charity is "The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Shirley."
Gift Aid forms are also available at the back of St James'.