The Friends of St Mary’s
The Friends have a Vision for the work of St Mary’s in the community which we serve.
“The Friends of St Mary the Virgin, Reculver, aim to conserve the existing building which forms part of the heritage of the ancient community of Reculver, and aim to develop facilities which will serve and support the needs of the whole of this rapidly growing community in the 21st Century and beyond.”
With this vision in mind we propose:
On the north side of the church, linking with the church itself, we would construct a “Chapter House”. Its main purpose will be to serve the needs of the community.
It would be used by the church congregation on Sundays, and for mid-
- It will need to be large enough to seat a good sized meeting.
- It will need to be tall enough for playing sports i.e. badminton.
- It will need to be robust enough to withstand the onslaught of Youth Groups.
- It will need to have display facilities for the various groups who will use it, and yet be smart enough to hire for Diocesan training days, wedding receptions etc.
- It will have excellent facilities for those who use wheelchairs, or who are with hearing or sight limitations.
- There will be good parking facilities -
well lit. - It will be a beautiful building in its own right, that will enhance the existing Victorian flint church, and give a nod in the direction of the old St Mary’s at the Towers.
- It will be as ‘green’ as possible, using modern techniques and materials for economy, efficiency and ease of maintenance.
- It must be durable, and with a long life-
span.
The point of the new building:
Once the building is available it must be used.
It is not intended to be a wonderful project, that will attract a blue plaque on the wall, and then be treated as a shrine to be preserved.
It is to be a working and serving building, reflecting the desires and aspirations of the congregation, church, and wider community that will have provided it.
There will be facilities for “all sorts and conditions of men” and women and children (with the exception of anything connected with the occult).
We envisage the following groups, organisations and activities making use of the premises; (in no particular order and certainly not an exhaustive list)
- Parenting skills and classes
- Internet cafe
- Lunch club for the elderly
- Family liaison services
- Counselling
- Uniformed organisations
- Sports facilities
- Music tuition and performance
- Dance space and dance classes
- Space for Neighbourhood Watch meetings and Residents’ Association
- Youth group facilities for teenagers
- After school clubs for Primary school children
- Film appreciation
- Space for the expanding Primary school to use
All of these serving the disabled community too by provision of excellent access, toilets, Braille, sound system etc.
Will YOU share the dream?
CONTACT US
The Friends of St Mary’s
C/O The Rev Ronald Hawkes
The Vicarage
25 Dence Park
HERNE BAY
CT6 6BQ
Telephone: +44 (0) 1227 360948
Donations, pledges and bequests are welcome -
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United Benefice of St. Mary the Virgin, Reculver &
St. Bartholomew, Herne Bay with Holy Cross, Hoath