The main news since our previous update is that our application for funding from Your Fund Surrey was submitted on 29 December. You will recall that the tenders we received were all considerably higher than our original budget, but success in our application to Your Fund Surrey will reduce, or even eradicate, the funding gap.
You will also recall that Your Fund Surrey’s timeframe means that we will not get a decision from them until March 2024 – and one of their requirements is that we cannot start work before then. But in the interim we are continuing our preparations, including for vacating the ancillary buildings, and by further discussions with Ash Contracting, our preferred partner for this project.
At the close of 2023, it is worth reminding ourselves that a year ago we had no firm plans, incomplete governance for the project, much less funding, no agreement from the Diocese and no planning permission! The church leadership remains strongly behind the scheme and this month the Archdeacon also confirmed that the forthcoming Vacancy in the parish would itself be no reason to delay progress; we are therefore very encouraged to explore all options to make it happen.
For more information about the project see Building Your Church