St Paul's Church Celebrates its Facelift

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Covers come off after three years's restoration work

Staff and visitors to St Paul’s Church in the centre of Hammersmith have been celebrating the covers coming off after three years of restoration work.

On Sunday January 18, Bishop of London Dr Richard Chartres gave a service of thanksgiving and switched on the new lighting scheme. The service also marked the ten year anniversary of the Churches’ re-launch of the Bishop of London.

The three year restoration project involved repairs to the original stonework and roofs, replacement of the bell tower louvres and external conservation and cleaning. 

 

During this time, the scaffolding covered a life-size image of the refurbished church became a familiar site to everyone in Hammersmith. The restoration work was paid for by the sale of advertising space on the scaffolding – an innovative funding idea which allowed the church's outreach and community work to continue unaffected.

In the past decade the church has developed numerous initiatives to help local people in need – from a debt advice centre, through to a successful training course, SPEAR, which enables local young people to find employment.

Simon Downham, Vicar of St Paul’s said: " This is a momentous occasion for our church and for the local community. As the scaffolding has come down, many have commented on how moved they are to see the original church in all its glory, unveiled again. It’s even more stunning than we could have imagined.

 

“More than that our desire is to create a platform for mission where people will be restored and formed precisely for the sake of the city.  We are so grateful for the patience of our congregations and local people. We hope the results of the restoration signify our commitment to the flourishing of this city. ”

 

 

The Bishop of London, Dr Richard Chartres said: " It was thrilling to see St Paul's full of a cross section of the people of Hammersmith. It is a church that has been renewed by looking outside its walls to serve the needs of the whole community."

A final phase of the redevelopment of St Paul’s will begin in March 2010, when work commences on an extension to the building. The church’s growth, combined with the many community initiatives it runs, has led to a critical lack of space which is restricting further expansion. The plans are to build a two-storey building plus basement at the west end of the church.

 

 

 

 

January 20, 2010