A time line showing some of the events which have occurred during the Development Stage of the All Saints HLF Urgent Repair Project in 2016 and 2017:

2016

5^th January         PCC Strategy Evening

7^th January         Meeting to prepare advertisement for an architectural firm

12^th January       Report on successful bid for Development Stage HLF grant given to PCC meeting. Vote taken to go ahead with the Development Stage (& raise the necessary match funding).

17^th January       Strategic presentation on the HLF project given to the church congregation

16^th February     Letters sent to members of the wider community interested in joining or helping with the Project Team.

8^th March           PCC meeting – formal approval given to accept the tender of the architectural firm, Thomas Ford & Partners.

17^th March         Project Team meet to plan the Public Meeting and discuss applications to grant-making bodies.

9^th April               Public Meeting held at All Saints Church

HLF Public Meeting black and white poster (Final FINAL draft).doc

21^st April             Friends of All Saints Committee make plans for the summer Open Day (with art exhibition)

3^rd May               PCC receive report on the Public Meeting and on the work being done by the Project Team

7^th May               Church begins to be manned by two volunteer welcomers every Saturday throughout summer

24^th May             Architect Paul Sharrock begins investigations at All Saints

11^th June             Friends of All Saints ‘Open Day’ held at church with an art exhibition by local schools and adult groups, a talk, tour and outdoor cream teas overlooking the river.

15^th June             Project Team consider tenders in Architect’s report and initial draft of Activity Plan

18^th June           Snodland C of E Primary School hold a Summer Fayre in aid of the HLF project

2^nd July              Friends of All Saints Church man a stall at Snodland Carnival to raise funds and promote the HLF project

7^th July                Year 6 children from Snodland C of E Primary School trial visit All Saints Church to learn about Christian pilgrimage and use the ‘Snodland Stones’ prayer walk symbols to reflect upon their own journeys of life.

12^th July              PCC receive a report on fundraising and grant applications for the HLF project and on the draft Activity Plan

23^rd July              Meeting with local IT professional to restore and rebuild church website

27^th July              Project Team what additional expert advice should be sought (eg English Heritage and Kent Wildlife Trust)

9^th August          Major investigations by various companies  of roof, stonework and timbers etc (including the use of a cherry picker) take place at All Saints Church

 

 

 

 

 

11^th August        Friends of All Saints committee plan music and candlelit supper fundraising event (Snodland Community Centre generously offered as a free venue)

All-night Bat Survey is carried out at All Saints Church

6^th September   Project Team consider what questions to  put to the architect following the investigations

8^th September   The Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) give approval for the proposed repair work to be carried out

10^th September The Friends of All Saints hold their autumn Open Day (Heritage Weekend and Kent Churches ‘Ride & Stride’)

13^th September PCC receive a report on the HLF project investigations in August and on the questions arising from them

16th September Meeting in All Saints churchyard with representatives from the Kent Wildlife Trust

5^th October        Project Team discuss the Kent Wildlife report on All Saints churchyard and ideas on how to enhance the wildlife there

Several Wednesdays in October     A ‘Community Payback’ team work in the churchyard clear ivy from gravestones and do some dead hedging on the bank above the river.

 

 

 

 

 

22^nd October     Jeremy Ashbee from English Heritage visits All Saints Church to advise on the display of artifacts

12th November Fundraising Candlelit Supper with Music at the Snodland Community Centre

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18^th November  Rector meets with Tracey Crouch MP (Minister of Sport, Heritage and Tourism) to discuss the HLF project

Project Team committee examine English Heritage Report & discuss booklets for children, the display of artifacts and possible ‘Hard Hat’ visits whilst the repair work is being carried out

25^th November  Rector, Churchwardens, and Treasurer consider investigations report from architect

6^th December  PCC discuss with the architect  the condition of the fabric highlighted by the investigations report (in particular the risk of falling cement and plaster). Formal approval given to the architect to apply to the HLF for additional funding; decision taken to proceed with the Delivery Stage of the project subject to funding (the required match funding was in place); and decision also taken, in the light of the investigations report, to request from the Bishop the temporary closure of All Saints Church until the relevant repairs were completed.

2017

2nd March Rector is notified that the application to the HLF Grant for additional funding has been successful

22nd March PCC Standing Committee meet with architect to agree draft guidelines and priorities in carrying out the project

4th April A special, additional meeting of the PCC approves guidelines and priorities for carrying out the project and approves a formal proposal to go forward with it.

30th April Meeting Helen Knell from Kent Wildlife Trust to discuss draft All Saints circular walks  (part of the Activity Plan)

2nd May A Faculty for the repair work is received from the Chancellor of the Diocese

10th May Official HLF ‘Permission to Start’ granted and HLF approved media announcement made available to the press

18th May Meeting with carpenter at All Saints Church to discuss display stand for medieval door & poor box (part of Activity Plan)

24th May Pre-start meeting with architect and builder in All Saints Church

5th June Start-date for the repair work – scaffolding begins to be erected in and around All Saints Church

 

 

 

25th June ‘Friends of All Saints’ Summer Garden Party in Rectory garden including an update for ‘friends’, donors and supporters on the HLF urgent repair project.

 

1st July Stonemason, Sam Walker, demonstrates his equipment and skills to local people at Snodland Town Carnival

11th July Children from all three Primary Schools in Snodland visit All Saints Church during the course of the day to learn more about this remarkable ancient building and about the repair project

19th August An adult ‘hard hat’ afternoon at All Saints church included tours of the scaffolding both externally up the side of the tower and internally above the chancel arch. The event included cream teas and a presentation by the architect, Paul Sharrock.

26th October Discovery during the course of repairs of possible pre-Reformation textual fragments in a wall cavity near former chimney announced to Client Meeting.

2nd November Friends of All Saints committee approve the printing of the new Children’s Guide Book, ‘Exploring All Saints Church’ (with Finn the ferryman):

10th November Internal and external work on the stonework above the chancel arch is complete and the scaffolding being removed. High level repairs to tower and bell-ringing floor nearing completion.

 

 

 

 

2nd December  A working party of about 30 volunteers spend a good part of the day cleaning the church in preparation for its reopening for services the following day, Sunday 3rd December.

 

 

 

 

 

2018

13 January Concert at All Saints Church

 

11 February 

A Service of Thanksgiving and Rededication was held following the completion of the main repair work. It was attended by a wide range of people from the local community as well as by those like the architect and stonemasons directly involved in the project.

 

There were displays of photographs and artifacts related to the work.

 

 

 

All around the church was festooned with 56 large hessian strips embroidered and decorated by different groups and organisations within Snodland.

 

 

 

 

 

17 February  Kent County Organists Association visit All Saints Church

24 March  Hackney Bell ringers visit All Saints Church

31 March 10.00am – 12.30pm Easter Egg Hunt in All Saints churchyard

7 April Saturday afternoon Summer Openings at All Saints Church (2pm-4pm) begin                     with team of ‘Welcomers’

9 April University of the 3rd Age (U3A) visit All Saints Church for a talk on its history

April  Console for sound system in All Saints Church relocated

April Font cover attached to chain permanently overhanging font

5 May  Bell Ringers from Bromley visit All Saints Church

11 May New window guards fitted at All Saints

13 May  Launch of new circular walk leaflet, produced in conjunction with the Kent Wildlife Trust. Around 30 people gathered for a picnic lunch in All Saints churchyard and afterwards set off on two mini-pilgrimage walks (part of the national ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ week). The main walk was led by Helen Keller from KWT using the new leaflets. The walkers returned to the church for some welcome tea and an outdoor service using the recently installed Snodland Stones prayer walk.

HLF Wildlife Walks poster & flyer

Walkers clutching copies of the new circular walk leaflet