THE RE-ORDERING OF ALL SAINTS’
At All Saints’ we are about to begin, perhaps, the most exciting phase in the’ history and development of the building in the past 600 years. In a way the process began about seven years ago, under the direction of the present Rector, who sought permission to remove a double stud partition wall which stood in the chancel and ‘separated’ part of the chancel and sanctuary area from the rest of the church, obscuring the view of the High Altar. The removal of these walls, formed the first part of a vision to recapture our mediaeval past, so restoring the ‘integrity ‘ of the mediaeval cruciform building.
The next phase of re-order will involve the removal of all the pews and pew bases from the Nave to restore the mediaeval ‘feel’ of the interior. Chairs will be placed in the ‘space’ for Services and other events – or even placed for worship, around exhibitions and displays. The new ‘cleared space’ will enable us greater flexibility with regard to musical and dramatic performances, lectures and demonstrations – an ‘in the round’ experience, perhaps rather than the usual ‘thrust’ arrangement, with less furniture helping to enhance the acoustic further.
The reclaiming of the mediaeval space will represent a dramatic return to the past, in order to effect a future for the church. A large space which the community can use, once more, for meetings and events, with the chancel and sanctuary returned to its’ ‘holy purpose’.