15/09/2026
PROJECT INSPIRE UPDATE
Over the summer a huge amount of work has been completed on the St. Lawrence church building, despite the obvious issue of people having well-deserved holidays during this period!
The huge scaffolding structure inside the church has enabled most of the decoration and painting works to be completed. Some of the plasterwork on upper areas has also been repaired. Some localised staining to the roof timbers is also being carried out.
Windows have been cleaned and repaired where necessary, including having specialised contractors cleaning the stained glass. Some of the external ironwork of the windows has also been repaired.
High level wiring and tracking for the new LED lights has been installed, as have the supports for the new AV system, including a motorised projection screen which will come down from the chancel arch in front of the choir screen when needed.
Scaffolding has been erected outside along the south side of the church to fix the new steel frame for the 17m of solar panels, which are a key part of our net zero carbon project. This steelwork has been carefully designed not to place any extra loading onto the lead roof. (Roz Savage MP was very impressed when she was recently on the roof to observe Project Inspire!)
The new three phase electricity connection has now been completed, which involved some digging and trenchwork at the front of the church, but thankfully little disruption to traffic in the busy Market Place.
Once the interior scaffolding comes down, the new limestone floor can then be laid and work started on the new toilet and kitchen area. Specialised pieces of stonework will be laser cut in the factory with a central cross being a key feature of the new design. Low level plastering and decoration can also take place at this time. Towards the winter the new air source heat pumps and underfloor heating system can be commissioned and tested.
Phew! Lots to thank God for in the good progress being made and the good working relationships between contractors, architects etc. Meanwhile, the worshipping life of the church family continues in services at the Memorial Hall and Lechlade Baptist Church. We are immensely grateful for the help and support of the trustees in both places!
