Trinity United Reformed Church, High Wycombe

Thanksgiving and opening service - 29 November 2009

• The chairs are in
• The sanctuary is ready
• The sanctuary in action

At long last our refurbished sanctuary is open! A thanksgiving and dedication service led by the Revd Dr Gwen Collins, our minister, was held on Sunday 29 November after nine months of 'exile' in the Crendon Hall while the extensive renovation work was taking place.

Around 200 people joined in the celebration and thanksgiving which started with our Junior Church and young people singing a joyful and specially written welcome song. After the service those attending gathered together for a buffet lunch in the Crendon Hall.

We are thrilled that this worship space is now open and available for hire to the community. Photographs and hire rates will be on the website very soon!

Acknowledgements

Our grateful thanks go to the following organisations and individuals outside Trinity URC who have helped to make this stage of the redevelopment plan for the building a reality, by providing funding and professional expertise:

• The Thames North Synod of the United Reformed Church
• The Veolia Environmental Trust
• The Garfield Weston Foundation
• The Beatrice Laing Trust
• Mr Zigmund Kissman
• The Polish Lutheran Church
• Legacy from Ronald Boxall
• Memorial gifts from families of Ruby Wallis, Win Coulson, Margaret Elworthy, Betty Large, Jessie Edward and Nina Shepherd.
• The Thames North URC Trust
• JBKS Architects
• Farr & Roberts Builders, their subcontractors, and the consultants
• The Revd David Skipp, Synod Property Development Worker

None of it would have been possible without the commitment and hard work of ourselves, the members and friends of Trinity URC. We are grateful to God for calling us together at this time. People and groups have contributed time, talents, ideas, and money way beyond what might have been expected, both as direct gifts and through various activities and social gatherings. We rejoice at what has been achieved [so far!].

The Revive Committee

11th October 2009 - Carpet laid, more lights are on.

• Looking out from the organ prior to replacing the pipes
• Organ pipes are back and lit up
• Organ lit up for worship
• The carpet is laid
• The curved wall lights are working

25th September 2009 - the lights are on.

• Step nosings and handrail fitted
• The ramp handrail is fitted
• Lights fitted into floor of cyclorama
• Organ pipes are painted
• The freshly painted organ without the pipes
• The top of the church lit up
• Mood lighting at the top of the church
• Balcony and back of church lit up
• Left hand side of the church lit up

• Work on the access ramp is started
• Column and beam uplighters fitted and working
• The concrete floor is levelled around the columns
• The cyclorama construction is started
• The balcony receives its first coat of paint
• The organ pipes are removed ready for painting

24th July 2009.

• Underfloor heating started to be laid
• Column uplighters are fitted
• Dias joists, steps and insulation fitted

10th July 2009.

• High level decoration is finished
• The floor is leveled prior to insulation
• The floor is insulated and sealed

3rd July 2009.

Latest pictures as the scaffolding comes down.

• The organ & top beams from the gallery
• View of the dias from the gallery
• New arch and flood lights

22nd May 2009.

Further work has now been done on the insulatioin and re-plastering of sections of the roof and first fixing of the lighting.

• Drilling through walls proves to be a challenge
• Wiring is laid through walls
• Wiring for the beam and column lighting is fixed in place
• The pulipt is prepared to be moved and stored

1st May 2009.

So, after a short pause due to discussions on colours, the decision has been made to strip the paint from the beams and seal them with a transparent lacquer. Work on this commenced on the 27th April and the results of the first week are below.

• Stripped beams under the gallery
• Stripped beams above the gallery
• Stripped beams almost at the top of the roof
• Stripped beams at the top of the roof space

3rd April 2009.

The fourth week of work on phase 2 has passed, below are links to photographs showing what has been done so far.

• Scaffolding in the sanctuary part 1
• Scaffolding in the sanctuary part 2
• Scaffolding in the sanctuary part 3
• Scaffolding in the sanctuary part 4
• Scaffolding in the sanctuary part 5
• Scaffolding in the sanctuary part 6

27th March 2009.

The third week of work on phase 2 has passed, below are links to photographs showing what has been done so far.

• Side view of the sanctuary 3 weeks in
• View of the centre of the sanctuary 3 weeks in
• Wrapping the pulpit base part 1
• Wrapping the pulpit base part 2
• Wrapping the pulpit base part 1
• Wrapping the pulpit base part 4

20th March 2009.

The second week of work on phase 2 has passed, below are links to photographs showing what has been done so far.

• View of the organ and sanctuary 2 weeks in
• The bottom of the pulpit
• The top of the pulpit
• Side view of the sanctuary 2 weeks in
• View of the centre of the sanctuary 2 weeks in
• View of the pulpit 2 weeks in

Work due to be done w/c 23rd March 2009

• Pulpit base to be moved
• Scaffold to be erected for high level works.
• Some first fix electrical work will start

13th March 2009.

The first week of work on phase 2 has passed, below are links to photographs showing what has been done so far.

• View of the organ before work started
• View from the pulpit brfore work started.
• View of the organ sealed against dust.
• An almost cleared sanctuary.
• Debris from "buy a pew or two".
• Side view of the sanctuary one week in.
• View of the sanctuary centre one week in.
• View of the pulpit one week in.