New ringing gallery at All Saints
The
Coddington Parochial Church Committee intends to request a faculty from
the
Hereford Diocese to approve the following alterations to All Saints
Church. The main
changes are to build a
ringing gallery in the church tower and to move the font to the south
door. The
minor alterations are to move four of the radiators at the base of the
tower
into the west end of the nave, to construct a storage cupboard at the
tower
base, and to re-lead the two stained glass windows in the north and
south wall
of the tower.
We wish to build a ringing gallery to improve the bell ringer’s ability to handle the bell by shortening the length of the bell rope. The gallery will also release space, previously occupied by ringers, to accommodate larger congregations on feast days and at weddings, and will provide an area for serving refreshments after services or concerts. The repositioning of the font to its more traditional position by the south door will consolidate this increased space at the tower base.
There are at present five radiators at the base of the tower. The repositioning of four of them, two to each side of the nave at the west end, will improve the heating in the body of the church. The cupboard that we wish to build in the tower will provide storage space for the equipment for cleaning, flower arranging and the crockery, kettles and cutlery required for refreshments. The lead in both stained glass windows in the tower must be replaced as it has deteriorated, causing the glass to bulge and become unstable.
Interestingly in 1790 a gallery was built against the west end of the nave, but this was removed when the tower was built in 1865.
All Saints Church serves the whole parish and the Coddington Parochial Church Council would like to hear views from all.
If you wish to see the plans or discuss these changes please contact the Rev’d Carl Attwood at The Rectory, Walwyn Road, Colwall or on 01684 540330.