The Parish of
FAWKHAM and HARTLEY

PARISH NEWSLETTER
NOVEMBER 2004

Previous Month

Dear Friends,

At its October meeting, the Parochial Church Council took the significant decision to proceed to the next step in development of the plans for the extension of All Saints Church. For this month’s newsletter I have invited John Field, the Chairman of the All Saints Extension Steering Group, to explain the background to this decision.

Your friend and Rector,

All Saints Church, Hartley - a Hidden Treasure

The Church Building       All Saints Church is listed Grade 1 as a building of national historic and architectural importance. Built more than 900 years ago, it is the oldest building in Hartley. The church has been developed from time to time as the centuries have passed. In the 1300s the chancel was enlarged and the chancel arch was rebuilt. Also two large windows in the Early English style were inserted in the nave to let in more light, replacing the much smaller Norman windows. Major work was carried out in 1860-63, when the small vestry was built and the east wall and roof of the chancel were rebuilt. In 1892 the west wall of the nave and the belfry were rebuilt. In 1974 the interior was reordered to meet changing needs.

Development       We now need to develop the building yet further to enable it to meet current needs, to be a useful asset in the mission of the Church in the parish and to be more accessible to the village community at large. It must also meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.

Unless we act now there is a danger of Hartley losing touch with its ancient church, and of the church becoming marginalized from the community it has served over the past millennium. Due to the current lack of facilities, services which should rightly be held at All Saints Church are being held elsewhere or not at all. This is true across the age spectrum. Hartley school services are not held in Hartley Church; young adults who have grown up in Hartley are looking elsewhere to get married; and the Hartley Active Retirement Associations do not consider Hartley Church as a natural venue for their regular thanksgiving or carol services. All this because of the lack of facilities; in particular, a toilet, access for people with disabilities, a place for making refreshments, and the possibility of extra seating when necessary.

These extra facilities would also bring great benefit every week, with the additional advantage that the extra space could be used to enhance our ministry to families who choose to worship at All Saints and as a circulation space to enjoy fellowship after the services.

Three years ago a steering group was formed to consider ways of providing such facilities. A firm of architects skilled in working with ancient buildings was appointed to advise on ways in which the needs might be met without detracting from the beauty of the historic church. The Church Council considered various ideas and agreed which outline plans should be discussed with the various relevant authorities before being further developed and then submitted for planning approval.

Early in the course of these discussions it became apparent that the only viable and practical location for such an extension would be at the west end of the church. This view was endorsed by the Diocesan Advisory Committee [DAC] and other bodies. This has had a significant bearing on the proposed design and likely cost.

The plans have now been approved by the DAC, Sevenoaks District Council, English Heritage, the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, the Council for the Care of Churches and the Victorian Society. They provide for the construction of an extension to the west of the existing building with a new west door approached by a path without steps from the lych gate. The extension would be linked with the nave through a wide arch in the current west wall. The arch would be furnished with glazed doors which could, when occasion demanded, be opened completely to extend the seating area at services with large congregations, such as those sometimes experienced at weddings and funerals.

Appropriate style       Great care has been taken in arriving at the plans now due to be developed further. A letter received from English Heritage states that the plans would enable the provision both of new facilities and extra space for worship without compromising the architectural and historic significance of the building. As such it is a clever design.

Planning costs       The generosity of a former parishioner who left money to be spent in connection with All Saints Church building made it possible for the PCC to commission the architects to draw up the plans now approved and to prepare detailed plans and specifications in the next few months. Without the Phillips Bequest it would have been very difficult to get started.

Funds for building       Wisdom dictates that the necessary building work can only be commissioned if and when the PCC is certain that the funds will be available to carry it through to completion. Detailed plans and reliable cost estimates will be required before the PCC can consider launching a major fund-raising exercise. These should be available by May 2005.

It has been agreed that every possible step must be taken to ensure that such fund-raising does not result in damage to the regular income required by the PCC for the maintenance and development of the Church's ministry.

Meanwhile       A small Development Group will be considering possible ways of raising funds without adversely affecting regular PCC income. It will be helpful if we can try to match the money spent so far before any major fund-raising scheme is launched. Anyone favourably disposed towards this proposed development who would like to consider making special contributions to PCC funds at this stage is now encouraged to do so, making it clear that the money is destined for "All Saints Church Development Fund". Wherever possible, please ensure that such contributions are Gift-Aided.

John Field,
Chairman, All Saints Extension Steering Committee