PCC News

In the summer of last year, Christ Church, Eaton celebrated the completion of its welcome area. This was the culmination of over eight years of planning, and then execution, under the supervision of church member, Mike Brookes. It involves a fully accessible WC, and new kitchen facilities. The Vicar, Patrick Richmond, explains, “ For ages, the church has struggled with limited kitchen facilities and only one toilet. It has taken more than eight years to get this far, and the need for a disabled WC was in fact recognised around 20 years ago”. The inclusion of an additional toilet is already proving helpful when hosting concerts, weddings and major services. Additionally, this space is now being regularly used for community events including exhibitions, lent lunches and school visits.

The new welcome area was not cheap, indeed the total cost exceeded £100,000. However, the unrestricted legacies of Jonathan Phillips (£121,000) and Daphne Bass (£22,000), both members of the congregation, enabled the PCC to give the green light to this project in the knowledge that the funding requirements could be met and to start the building work ahead of fundraising. To date, an additional £30,000 has been raised for the welcome area, generating reserves for future projects.

The other project which has benefited from these legacies is the renovation of Christ Church’s 100 yearold pipe organ, last given a  major overhaul over 50 years ago. The renovated organ was ready to go at the end of March of this year, just two days before a concert designed to show it off! The organ has been very popular with donors and now, almost all of the £75,000 total required has been raised. However, just as with the welcome area, the legacy money made it possible to proceed without having to wait for this substantial sum to be raised.