From the Manse - February 2012

2011 was an eventful year in the life of our congregation, not least because we had to move out of our building and relocate our worship and activities elsewhere. Closing the halls complex was a very difficult decision for Elders to take and we have appreciated your support and understanding as we moved first to St Peter in Chains church hall for Advent worship and then on to St Andrew’s Episcopal Church for Christmas. We have also greatly appreciated the support of our neighbouring congregations in St Peters and St Andrews who were so quick to offer assistance. We are blessed to have such good neighbours!

Two important meetings were held in December 2011 - the Kirk Session on 13th December and the Congregational Meeting on 20th December. The Agenda was the same for both meetings: (1) the future of the Sanctuary; (2) progress with the Feasibility Study in respect of the halls complex; and (3) the proposed building share arrangements with St Andrews Scottish Episcopal Church. The main discussion was around item 1: the future of the Sanctuary. Both meetings gave lengthy consideration to a proposal to dispose of the Sanctuary due to its deteriorating condition and the prohibitive costs of repair, maintenance and insurance, and a vote was taken. At the Kirk Session the result was 14 votes in favour of disposing of the Sanctuary and 4 votes against. At the Congregational Meeting the vote was 54 in favour and 3 against.  Extract minutes of both meetings will now go to the Presbytery of Ardrossan who will consider the proposal at their February meeting.

The second item for discussion was the feasibility study in respect of the halls complex. A brief in three parts has now been finalised:  (1) report on condition of the Sanctuary with a view to its disposal; (2) upgrade of the halls complex to make it suitable for multi-purpose use – this includes all works, i.e. rot inspections, plasterwork, services, insulation and improving the kitchen and toilet facilities together with probable costings; (3) Consideration to a further phase of extending the hall to include some storage accommodation etc. It is anticipated that our preferred surveyor will be appointed by the end of January to oversee the feasibility study and that a costed report will come to the Annual Stated Meeting of the Congregation in March 2012. Details of the meeting will be sent out to all members in due course. While some funding for the required works may be secured from various grant sources, the congregation will need to raise a substantial proportion of the finance necessary to upgrade the halls complex.

The final item of discussion was the proposed building share with St Andrew’s Scottish Episcopal Church. A building share agreement has now been finalised, for six months in the first instance, to allow time for the feasibility study to be carried out and for the future of our halls complex to be determined. Our Sunday morning service is now at 10:00am, followed by tea and coffee in the hall.  Some activities have also been relocated to St Andrew’s Halls but others, such as the Guild and the Chair Aerobics, will continue in New Trinity Church Halls in Saltcoats. Please keep a close eye on the weekly intimation sheets and the local newspaper for details about “what’s on and where”. As always the most up to date information on all our activities can be found on our website www.baronystjohns.co.uk. 2012 looks like being a very eventful year too! Your prayerful support and understanding is much appreciated as we work to ensure that we can stay together as a congregation until such time as the future of our halls complex is decided. 

Blessings

Dorothy