ST CHAD'S CHURCH, PATTINGHAM WITH PATSHULL

DAC petition for a faculty to replace heating system

Statement of Need – Proposed replacement of heating system

The church’s boiler has failed and cannot be economically repaired. As a result we are using temporary portable heating equipment but this has proved insufficient during the depth of winter and we are now holding our main services at the local school and public house.

Following advice as laid our below, the PCC proposes:

(1) To replace the existing cast iron boiler with a condensing boiler. This will no longer be sited in the boiler room but in the Vicar’s vestry.

The vicar has indicated that she has no objection to this arrangement. A number of advantages arise from this arrangement in that the access to the boiler room is down a narrow set of steps and there is a good deal of piping and a flue which almost certainly mean the energy is wasted. Siting in the Vestry is close to the gas and water supply and the boiler will be more readily accessible for maintenance purposes.

(2) The system of pipework is to be replaced with finned steel pipework.

Whilst the existing pipework may have some patency a significant portion is buried and we have no immediate means of determining how parlous a state some sections may be in at present. It is almost certainly 150 years old. The intention is to route this new pipework through the existing duct trenches. Two new duct trenches are to be added to:

anticipate a potential reordering of the North Aisle permit (when needed) independent heating of that part of the Church remove raised piping that could cause a trip hazard

The pipe work in these trenches will be covered by cast iron grating taken from other trenches no longer used, which will be covered with steel plates.

(3) It is intended to keep the existing radiators in the body of the church.

These radiators will be flushed and cleaned and new valves fitted. We are advised that they are well sited in the Church and will provide adequate heating. At present they blend in well with the general appearance of the Church. Two radiators at the west end of the church will be moved forward to a better position to accommodate reordering of the west door entrance. There will be no material change in the appearance of the Church.

(4) We do however plan to change the radiators in the Chancel.

Currently these are large black radiators positioned just before the sanctuary rail of both left and right hand sides of the chancel. It is our opinion that they lack elegance and set against the white plasterwork stand out in a rather obtrusive manner. We plan to replace these particular radiators with modern panel radiators, which we consider will actually be less obvious and less unsightly whilst at the same time providing better heating of that part of the church.

In order to contribute to an improved “thermal block” at the east aspect of the church these radiators will be sited against the east wall either side of the reredos and be concealed from view by the existing curtains either side of the reredos.

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(5) To install a modern system of control.

A new electronic control will be added which will allow us to maintain a constant temperature range, especially during the colder months of the year.

Background Information

St Chad’s Church Pattingham serves a village community of c. 2,500, with a further 500 people living in Burnhill Green and on the Patshull estate. We currently have c. 171 on the electoral roll (April 2015) with an average Sunday attendance of averaging 90 adults and 14 children.

Services take place at 8 am, 10 am, and 6.30 pm on Sundays – with occasional baptism services at 3 pm too, and a regular weekday Communion Service at 10 am on Wednesdays. In addition, the Fellowship Group meets for Bible study and prayer on alternate Wed evenings at 7.30 pm.

Young people are involved in the Choir – which sings at all main services & evensongs; through a monthly Family Service (1st Sunday), Sunday School (3rd Sunday) and a monthly evening Youth Service (2nd Sunday).

All services have regular and faithful adherents. Some attend a multitude, while others may worship only at one style or time in the week or month, but it is rare that any service has less than 15 – 20 in the congregation, and the 10 am Sunday morning service averages around 65. On some occasions of course – notably at major festivals and sometimes for the occasional offices, the congregation is in excess of 200. The church is a popular wedding venue with around 16 weddings being held there each year – considerably more than one would expect for a village of this size.

The church, which sits in a prime location at the centre of the village, is approached from the main road via a long, -maintained path, through a well cared-for churchyard. It is left open and available for prayer during daylight hours and many people walk through the church grounds every day.

The church is also used reasonably regularly for evening concerts and as a rehearsal venue for the active community choir. We have strong links with the church primary school and all the children will visit the church at least once per term for services that they conduct there and an annual School Eucharist for St Chad’s Day.

Our last Quinquennial Inspection Report was conducted in 2016 and there is an on-going programme of maintenance and essential repairs being carried out, under the supervision of our Architects, Wood, Goldstraw, Yorath. Andrew Capper of that firm has been consulted about the proposed installation. The parish is fortunate in having access to money via various Trusts (including a substantial historic legacy), and the PCC and Churchwardens take the responsible management of such reserves as they control very seriously. The proposed scheme would be funded in part from one such source.

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The PCC has – as part of its Mission Action Planning process – been considering ways in which the church can be made more welcoming. The recent removal of a very dark storm porch and its replacement with glass porch doors has fulfilled this desideratum to an extent but more remains to be done.

In the past 2-3 years we have begun a Messy Church initiative meeting in the local Church School initially, in the Village Hall and most recently in the Church. As a result of this and other initiatives, the number of families with young children attending church is slowly growing.

A number of families choose to have their children baptised at St Chad’s and a significant number of couples choose St Chad’s as the Church in which they wish to be married. A strong relationship with the village Church School results in regular services during the school year being held in St Chad’s.

Whilst St Chad’s Pattingham is blessed with many positive features, there is no doubt that an overhaul of the heating system is overdue. In winter especially (despite early switching on) the body of the Church is cold enough to prompt complaints from members of the congregation. The chancel can be even colder and significant “down draughts” (or waterfall effect) contribute to a chilly aspect especially at 8.00 am communion. Such is the vigour of the draught that the altar candle flame is near horizontal and an entire 12” candle can be consumed during the course of a service. In April 2015 there was a significant fall of plaster from the apex of the chancel roof. At the same time during a periodic inspection of pews, evidence of woodworm was seen in a pew in the south aisle. We are advised that the impact of the Church oscillating between very low and moderate to high temperatures has a detrimental effect on the fabric of the building. This is not helped by an outdated control system that allows very little “tuning” of our heating in the Church.

Our needs are therefore missional, practical, environmental and aesthetic. This church is working actively to grow, through members being very active in the community and taking every opportunity to invite others into the building. We need to ensure that when they come, the building is welcoming, and as accessible as possible and we feel that this will be significantly enhanced if the church is maintained at a reasonable temperature. We also consider that a more narrow range of ambient temperature will help to protect the fabric of the Church.

We were grateful for the visit and advice from Brough Skingley, the diocesan adviser who visited the Church, learned of our issues and concerns and presented us with an extremely helpful report. That report has been received and noted by the Diocesan Advisory Committee. In addition, during a visit from the Church architect, Mr Andrew Capper we had informal discussions and received advice that was consistent with many of the items raised by Brough Skingley.

Following this advice, a working committee has received visits from a number of potential contractors and reported back regularly to the PCC. The PCC has also received copies of all quotations. The decision was taken to effect a “root and branch” replacement of the entire heating system, yet retaining a water-based system as advised by both Brough Skingley and Andrew Capper.

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