We had a meeting with the Churches Conservation Trust on 8 May to discuss fundraising requirements, specific issues with the building and the process for initiating projects for building improvements. We also discussed how issues relating to the internal operation of the building can be dealt with in a pro-active and constructive manner.

Humidifier: One of the specific issues relating to the building was the urgent need for a humidifier to be installed to protect the organ now that the building is heated on a new constant basis which can dry out various parts of the organ and cause serous damage. We have raised this issue with the the conservation department of the Churches Conservation Trust and also submitted a Community Initiative Process document to their regional team. Hopefully progress can be made on this before there is serious damage to the organ.

The Bellchamber: We also discussed the issues with the bell chamber – changes made in the bell chamber so that six bells can be rung at the gallery level have in turn raised safety concerns about using the bell chamber when all 10 bells are to be rung. As a result of these concerns, St Peter’s has been downgraded from a 10 bell ring to a 6 bell ring which was never the intention of the St Peter’s project. We have asked the Suffolk Guild of Bell Ringers to summarise the issue so that this can be formally raised with the Churches Conservation Trust. It may be that the cost of rectifying this issue can be covered by the contractors as a snagging issue.