PLANS for the next phase of the Restoration
Dominic Roberts BA(Hons) DipArch RIBA AABC from Francis Roberts Architects was asked to come up with some ideas on how we could utilise the existing footprint of Our Lady Star of the Sea and St Michaels to meet the needs of todays congregation. He did not disappoint – take a look at his initial ideas !
Member of our core volunteer groups were invited to meet and look at these initial plans and now the plans are being shared with the wider congregation for comments and feedback. The plans are on display at the back of Our Lady Star of the Sea and St Michaels church, on the Parish of Christ the Good Shepherd social media pages as well as on this website.
The remaining project will now be three smaller – and more achievable projects.
The plans show a more useable Sacristy which will be opened up – the three windows in the smaller working sacristy will be opened up to bring in more light eventually. Extra Storage space will be installed to accommodate storage for the volunteering groups of cleaners, florists and Altar servers etc. The larger sacristy will remain, the Priests Sacristy however will be a flexible space that can also accommodate meetings and perhaps childrens liturgy – these are some of the ideas.
The South Transept will be restored structually and the rose window repaired as we have with the side altar windows. One suggestion is to removed the Allabaster reliefs from the Lady altar and place them in the South Transept to give them more prominence. There is a suggestion that this space should be used as a memorial area and that the book of remembrance should remain here also. Another suggestion is to make this area a shrine to the Cumbrian Saints. See link below for more details
https://www.christ-the-good-shepherd.co.uk/saints-of-cumberland
The Narthex or porch ( the area at the back of the church). This is a very underused space and Dominic has been very creative in showing us how it could be used. The existing toilet will remain in place as it needs to be a disabled toilet, however Dominic will look at adding a smaller one for the able bodied. A Kitchen in a cupboard could be installed in the other side and then the restored baptistry could have protective perspex or somesuch material around it and cushions seating installed so parishioners can have a coffee in there etc. Alternatively this can remain an area for the childrens liturgy once all renovations have been completed. The kitchen in a cupboard idea will open up the narthex for events and public gatherings – stackable chairs and tables can be stored nearby for easy access. The large double doors create a wind tunnel in winter where valuable heat is lost – Dominic has drawn plans for a new side door – in between the Baptistry and the current piety stall. This will facilitate disabled access to the back of the church and the toilets at the point of entry and allow for the larger double doorss to be closed and create a much larger space for gatherings and events. The stained glass window of St Kentegern will probably be relocated in the working sacristy where the windows in there have been opened up. The arches at the back will be decorated in the style of the original stencilling that existed when the chuch was first built. We have parishioners who can still remember the colours!
Check out the initial drawings – the pulpit is not on the drawings and neither are the side pews which will still be in place. If you have any comments please email info@stellamarisproject.co.uk
