Overview
St Marks is embarking on an ambitious project to outreach into our parish community and re-order the inside of our church building to allow for a dynamic and varied use of the church building. The re-ordering will include the removal of the pews to open up the nave while also adding much needed facilities such as toilets, office space, meeting rooms and a dedicated kitchen area, more detailed information about the re-ordering can be found below.
St Mark’s Parish is one of the most deprived in the country. Research, a professional survey and inspiration show that the Church, its people and its buildings, can make a positive difference to the lives of our neighbours through a programme of outreach and activity provision.
To support this vision, we look to recruit a Community Engagement Manager as well as a Childrens and Families Worker.
Reordering
The church building is 165 years old, it is attractive and in reasonable condition however the interior is outdated and is not suitable for the needs of the parish. Re-ordering is the process of updating and reconfiguring the layout of the church, by doing this we can ensure the church is suitable for both worship and as a community hub.
Below is a list of the key changes and a representation of how the church could look in the future:
Key Changes:
- Removal of the pews and raised pew platforms allowing a more accessible space to support various community activities.
- Stackable chairs and tables will allow for a range of layouts to be used.
- Existing floor grates to be replaced with tiled access floor lids.
- Adjusting the floors in the nave and rear rooms (currently the Galilee area) to create level access.
- Accessible toilets and kitchen area to be built within the space – currently these are located in the hall.
Community Hub
Churches are primarily used on a Sunday for services, meaning that during the rest of the week many church buildings can become underutilised. While we currently have a range of activities during the week, the ability to widen the offering to the community through a new hub would be beneficial and was the most requested need when community research was undertaken. The diverse range of activities regularly hiring our small hall shows how the local community will benefit from a larger space.
Meeting rooms and the whole site will be available for hire. The aim will be to encourage charity use, but commercial hire would be valuable to generate an income to support upkeep. The re-ordered church will make an excellent conference centre.
A café will be central to the outreach programme, supported by the congregation. This will build upon the successful “Tea-4-free” which runs one afternoon a week. The aim is for this to be a key community meeting point, a safe space for people to congregate where trained volunteers will aim to recognise those who need support, such as the lonely.
Peterborough4You Community Survey
In 2018 St Mark’s received an ‘Awards for All’ grant from the National Lottery Communities Fund to resource a professionally-designed survey of the communities in the Parish. Between October 2019 and March 2020, St Marks undertook the research, called ‘Peterborough4You’ and responses were received from a range of people within the church and the community, including those in positions of power within the local community and local business leaders. The total responses received totalled almost 500.
The survey reported on community needs and activities to support wellbeing and community issues that needed addressing. In order of priory, these included:
- Wellbeing support for families, young people, children and older people.
- Deprivation such as homelessness, financial hardship, unemployment.
- Domestic abuse.
- Anti-social behaviour.
- Mental health issues
- Loneliness