The Friends of St Laurence’s have been asked by the PCC to undertake two major projects:
REPAIR AND RE-FURBISHMENT OF THE ORGAN
The organ at St Laurence’s was built in 1872 by Forster and Andrews of Hull and rebuilt in 1953 by Rushworth and Dreaper of Liverpool and further refurbished in 1990, a replacement would cost at least £750,000.
Under the leadership of the Rector, Fr Neil Kelley, himself a graduate of the Royal College of Music, musical performances, both religious and secular, have become a key element in our ambition to build the role of St Laurence’s as a cultural and social centre engaging with a community audience beyond the immediate congregation. The organ plays an important role in traditional and modern Anglican liturgies and its modern derivatives and is an essential instrument for recitals and other forms of musical performance. The established series of Light Classics concerts by up-and-coming musicians from Lancashire and further afield has attracted regular audiences of 60/80 on Sunday afternoons. Repairing and upgrading the organ to the highest possible quality is essential if we are to build on these foundations.
Under the leadership of the Rector, Fr Neil Kelley, himself a graduate of the Royal College of Music, musical performances, both religious and secular, have become a key element in our ambition to build the role of St Laurence’s as a cultural and social centre engaging with a community audience beyond the immediate congregation. The organ plays an important role in traditional and modern Anglican liturgies and its modern derivatives and is an essential instrument for recitals and other forms of musical performance. The established series of Light Classics concerts by up-and-coming musicians from Lancashire and further afield has attracted regular audiences of 60/80 on Sunday afternoons. Repairing and upgrading the organ to the highest possible quality is essential if we are to build on these foundations.
|
Our organ project is divided into four phases to be delivered over an eight year period and will cost £102,000 at present day prices. Work starts on the first phase – repairing the roof of the organ chamber - on August 30 and will be completed in six weeks before the weather deteriorates. The budget for this stage in the project is £40,000 and we have the funds available thanks to grants of £12,000 from the National Churches Trust and the Wolfson Foundation and £8,000 from Chorley Borough Council’s Communities Fund. The remaining £20,000 will come from our current balances and we are more than grateful to our corporate and individual donors whose generosity has made this possible. These figures exclude VAT which is recoverable under the Government scheme for local Place of Worship.
|
You can find out more about the role the organ plays in our vision for the church and full details or the project by click the button below.
|
Full details of the project including the works to repair the roof can be found by clicking the Organ Project button on this website.
REBUILDING THE WINDOWS AT THE WEST END OF THE CHURCH
The imposing five lancet of diamond leaded clear glass window lights up the North Aisle and the former creche which no hosts the Taste Café. The stained glass window halfway up the tower lights the belfry, the four lancets show The Nativity, The Baptism in the Jordan, Jesus blessing children and the Good Shepherd. Both were installed around 1870 when the church was remodeled. In both windows the stone tracery and lintel are cracked as the metal dowels have corroded and need rebuilding. Water has been seeping through the cracks in the tower window causing the stained glass to fade and lose its colour.
We need to begin by obtaining a reliable estimate of the cost of rebuild; this requires detailed specifications to be prepared which can then be put out to tender. This will involve paying fees to our consultants – architects and stonemasons - of up to £5,000 so our priority is to raise this amount as soon as possible so that we can launch an appeal.
More details of this project and the work involved can be found by clicking the Windows project button on this web site.
We need to begin by obtaining a reliable estimate of the cost of rebuild; this requires detailed specifications to be prepared which can then be put out to tender. This will involve paying fees to our consultants – architects and stonemasons - of up to £5,000 so our priority is to raise this amount as soon as possible so that we can launch an appeal.
More details of this project and the work involved can be found by clicking the Windows project button on this web site.
YOU CAN HELP US FUND BOTH PROJECTS AND PRESERVE OUR HISTORIC CHURCH BY CLICKING DONATE NOW ON THIS PAGE. ALL CONTRIBUTIONS MOST GRATEFULLY RECEIVED