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an Exeter community partnership

The
St Stephen's

Project

 
 

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Fundraising Progress to October 31st 2011

Estimated costs

£

Phase 1 works ~ completed(1): 466,752
Phase 2 works ~ completed(2): 270,161
Phase 3 works ~ in progress(3): 582,276
Phase 4 works(4): 94,703
Phase 5 works(5): 12,496

Total estimated cost:

 £1,426,388

 

Funds raised to date

£

Parish donations/fundraising events: 177,485
Public donations/collections: 157,536
Grants received: 618,606
Grant promised(6): 317,977
Gift Aid, VAT return; bank interest: 106,201

Total funds raised

£1,377,805

 

Balance needed - works: £48,583

Notes

These professionally estimated costs refer to separate but linked Phases which together make up the St Stephen's Project. This approach was chosen to meet cash-flow needs as fundraising continues. Estimates are likely to change as building work proceeds.

The estimated cost for each Phase includes development, administration, fundraising, miscellaneous, building and VAT costs or cost estimates. In addition Phases 2 and 3 include the cost of required local contributions to the grants received. Detailed accounts are available for each phase.

  1. High level repairs and safety work to the roof and tower completed in 2009. All costs for Phase 1 have been met.

  2. Low level external repairs, internal plaster repair and redecoration completed in 2011. All costs for Phase 2 have been met.

  3. Internal works - west end: an internal mobility ramp, new access lobby, floor level changes, a servery, a gallery and community meeting rooms; heating, lighting and communication systems all with the provision of appropriate support facilities for those experiencing mobility, hearing or sight difficulty. This work is in progress. Completion is expected in December 2011.

  4. Internal works - east end: completion of the community works started in Phase 3; including flooring, storage, steps, refurbished sanctuary as an information centre, heating and lighting. Fund-raising continues.

  5. Advance payment for an additional Phase 5 (steps and south door access) when full funding allows.

  6. The balance of grants under the Landfill Community Fund scheme.

Fundraising is undertaken by volunteers ~ no professional fundraiser is employed.

St Stephen’s Project: Bimonthly Progress Report 40
Activities in September and October 2011

At the beginning of this period most of what the contractor describes as 'demolition' had been completed with almost all the internal features of St Stephen's removed, the floor levelled and prepared for the Portland stone to come, and the foundation of the internal ramp laid. Since then rebuilding and refurbishment has been taking place in earnest with the expectation that Phase 3 (the internal refurbishment less work on the east end) will be completed in time for Christmas. The east end Phase 4 work will then follow on immediately with an expected completion date in March. Arrangements for the planned Phase 5 (access into St Stephen's from Catherine Square) are being separately negotiated which may delay the timing of its implementation. As a result it has been decided to proceed with the furnishing of St Stephen’s at the end of Phase 4 with the aim of having a public re-opening of the church on Thursday 19th July. The church re-dedication - in the presence of a number of Bishops associated with St Stephens over the years - is planned to take place on Tuesday evening September 4th.

Another development that took place during this period was the decision to use the refurbished Bow room as an easily accessible quiet space laid out to provide for visitors information about St Stephen’s, its immediate environment and Exeter in general over the centuries. Discussions are currently taking place with the Exeter Local History Society and the City Council (Red Coat History Tours) about this. This does not alter the refurbishment work but it does mean that when St Stephen's is newly opened, the Bow will no longer be used for meetings in a closed room; these will be taking place in the new room provided at the west end of the building.

Work during this period has included:

  • laying of the Portland stone - over 90% now completed

  • laying of the stone flooring in the wheelchair ramp along the internal north wall;

  • preparing the foundation for the High Street porch;

  • installation under the floor, in the roof space and in the tower with control equipment in the proposed servery area of a complex electrical wiring system to accommodate alternative lighting and heating combinations;

  • building of the wooden structure to support the dais to a special design on three deep steps to allow choir members to be more easily seen

  • removal of the old sink in preparation for the new facilities for flowers and cleaning activities at the east end;

  • cutting doorways through the store area boarding at the east end;

  • plugging the west end wall to take the steel supports for the new gallery - this has had to be redesigned owing to the discovered presence of gravestones where the supports in the original design were to be placed;

  • the quatrefoil facing on the columns at the west end has been carefully removed and the internal heavy wooden posts adapted to take the supports for the replaced gallery;

  • the ancient wooden panelling has been replaced along the north and south walls. This is slightly higher than previously owing to the changed floor height;

  • the flowerbed outside the south wall has been re-planted

  • fundraising continues - a total of £140,659 from the Viridor Credits grant and £21,332 from other sources was received during this period;. 97% of the works cost of the St Stephen's Project to the end of Phase 4 has now been raised.

* * * * *

The Co-ordinating Committee is currently meeting bi-monthly. Committee secretary: Richard Skinner.
The Events and Users Committees meet as needed. Contact persons: Bridget Davies and Liz Snowden.
The Design Team & Access Advisory Group meet as needed. Bob Snowden is the Project Director.

 

If you have any questions or would like to help please contact the project team.

  This page was last updated on 05 December 2011.
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