We had a meeting with the Churches Conservation Trust (the CCT) on 18 June to discuss a number of issues which included:

(i) the holding the St Peter’s Day service in St Peter’s
(ii) the installation of a humidifier for the organ
(iii) trip hazards in the bell chamber as a result of the renovation project
(iv) installation of solar panels.

There had been much correspondence between the Friends, Churches Together, the CCT and the Bridge Project to ensure the St Peter’s Day Service in St Peter’s went ahead in late June. Initially there was resistance by the CCT and the Bridge Project to this Service taking place. Once however the depth of community feeling on this was fully communicated by the Friends and Churches Together it was agreed the service could go ahead. It was also agreed that this Service could take place annually. A good result for everyone and the Friends thanked the CCT for making this happen.

The Humidifier: the Friends explained the urgent need for this (the organ will dry out over during the heating season and this will damage the instrument) and what the installation required which was an electrical supply, water supply in and water supply out (i.e. a drain). It was agreed that a meeting between the CCT, the Friends and the organ builders (who would supervise the installation of the humidifier) would be useful. Installation would need to fit in with the Bridge activities.

The Ringing Chamber: There are trip hazards from the guidance of the bell ropes in the floor of the ringing chamber and with a cable running about 9 inches above the ringing chamber floor level from which the rope spider above the mezzanine hangs. It was suggested that a false floor would resolve the issue. It was also requested that the CCT raises this as a snagging issue as it seems very unlikely that these works would have been specified by the architect. A report on this prepared by Peter Upson (Friends trustee and bell ringer) was presented to the CCT.

Solar Panels: the Friends will investigate the feasibility of such a project to understand time, costs, logistics, accessibility and listed building consent so that a Community Initiative Plan can be proposed to proceed.