June 2009. Looking back, the biggest hindrance to this idea was that previous purchasers who had reached contract stage were faced with three pages of covenants as part of the contract. The church authorities are clearly determined to control future uses of the building even after it is sold. So what scope is there for an imaginative project breathing new life into an old church building? Not much it would seem, unless it agrees with previously exisitng ideas. I find that even more daunting than the structural needs!
***** Thursday January 1st 2009. I withdrew my offer for the building in early December. I did not have a sufficient conviction that this was a project God was asking me to take on. While I feel both disappointed and relieved, my concern is to follow in his steps rather than pushing forward on my own. I wonder what will happen to the building?
***** Wednesday 5th November. When we went on holiday last week, I was feeling low about the possibility of finding the right person to head up the rennovations. I doubted that a homeless person of the right gifts and calibre and faith would exist. Next morning, in the hotel pool, I met a man singing Morning Has Broken as he swam up and down. It turned out he was homeless, following a painful break-up, was a skilled plumber but could not work because of an ninjury from acid which had affected his arm and shoulder, and who on hearing what I was thinking of, immediately said "What you need is someone who was on drugs and has been off them for five years." He let me pray over his arm. My reaction afterwards was, here is the ideal guy!
***** Wednesday 22nd October. On Monday I heard of someone buying a church near Chippenham for one pound. It took him ten years to get it into shape. If this project goes ahead, then the first several years will comprise residents doing it up, it seems to me. The tasks are not something to be done before the project can open, but the project itself.
***** Tuesday 14th October. Following conversations with local residents, it is clear that use of the building would need to be supervised. A resident soul in charge, or something, seems essential. I found myself thinking of the word monastery over the last day or two. I did a brief glimpse at the grants for ancient buildings websites, and it looks as if they are for Grade I and Grade II* listed buildings only in practice. This one is only Grade II. Over 90% of listed buildings are just Grade II apparently. So not much hope there!
***** Sunday 12th October. I have prepared this newsletter for local residents which I hope to deliver this weekend. I have included my contact details. This is because I feel I need their agreement to operate, on two grounds. One, because they will be affected by any disturbance that might arise. Two, because as I understand it, the church was given to the residents of Longcross by the Lord of the Manor. When people wondered what to do with the deeds, the diocese offered to keep them safe in their vault. This has now become evidence of title. Neat! Well, I suppose somebody has to have title, and I guess that there are few current residents if any that can claim descent from the residents of all those decades ago. Nevertheless, I feel that anything I might do with the building, and any care of it and the graveyard, is on behalf of the residents. So it seems only fair to give them a hearing. If the chorus of disapproval over my ideas is deafening, then that's a good reason for pulling out.
***** Thursday 9th October. Here is a slate that
made it to the ground without breaking up, remarkably. It occurs
to me that the length of its drop was at least twice that of the
guillotine of the French Revolution. Note the handsome half
shadow. Does the sun always shine at Longcross?
***** Tuesday 7th October. I have made an offer for the building. It has been the hardest decision of my life to date. The fact that the vendor thinks the building is an asset rather than a liability, the mass of regulations and prohibitions, ecclesiastical and listing-wise, the need for urgent expenditure, the probable hostility of local residents, the lack of facilites in the building, the remoteness from where people live all feel like an impenetrable thicket blocking the path ahead. However, it is just possible it could be a place for distressed people to find healing and God, and so it seems worth pushing the door to see if it opens.
***** Sunday 5th October. At our Intergen Service at church (Inter-generational, meaning children's input welcomed) we were asked how we would describe heaven. One little girl replied, "being alone with God". Isn't that just about what I imagine for Christ Church?
***** Saturday 4th October 2008. Had a letter from the agent outlining all the hurdles to doing anything with the property, which I found off-putting. I suppose they only want serious offers. But if nothing is done, the building will become a dangerous ruin sooner or later. Perhaps they are not aware how bad things are?
There are plenty of drawbacks to doing a project here - major repairs needed, no shop within two miles, no loo, no kitchen, surrounded by recent graves, neighbours keen to preserve the area from unwanted intruders. These all seem like disadvantages at first, but perhaps they can be used as assets? For example, it would be nice if people could have the option to stay five minutes or five years, depending on how long they need. In this case, the lack of amenities will prevent people from staying unless they really are serious about finding God and getting their lives on track. It is not a place for spongers, because there will be nothing to sponge. The only recreation is walking on Chobham Heath.
The first people to be helped will be the ones repairing the building. Are there craftsmen out there who need a break, who would be pleased to work on this building, and train up apprentices while they are at it, I wonder?
***** Monday 29th September. Finally got to see the interior. Took along Barrie, a retired Surveyor, and Clive, a friend. It is dark inside. It turns out there is urgent restoration required on the building, costing up to £150,000. I had hoped to get a church in good condition, but a builder friend pointed out that all redundant churches are in poor condition, because the system whereby they are cared for ceases to function, in some cases several years before they are declared redundant. A few go on to become ruins eventually.
***** Mid September. Earlier this month, Clive
and I met a man from Australia visiting his parents' grave, while
I was showing Clive the church. The grave is slap up against the
building. It was only a fortnight later that I realised that a
slate had come down from the roof a few metres along from the
grave, breaking the gutter in its descent to the ground. A direct
hit could have been fatal, I guess.
***** Thursday 28th August. Came across Christ Church Longcross on the list of churches for sale. Rang the agents, and then went to have a look at the outside next day. Miles from anywhere, except for some local housing. Very peaceful. Interesting.
Thanks for your interest in this project. David Pennant, Woking.