|
Check this page for
the latest information
Bulletins will be issued
and published here.
Bulletin 1 (Oct 08)
|
 Eight
years ago, when I first set foot inside Rustington church with a
view to becoming Vicar here, I remember observing features I warmed
to, but noticing other things which seemed to me to be in need of
attention. Having been through an extensive re-ordering scheme in my
previous post, no doubt my perspective would have been different
from that of someone accustomed to worshipping in Rustington Church.
An Archdeacon’s Visitation in 2001 confirmed my
growing feeling that, at that some point, we would need to give
careful thought to the building. The Archdeacon commented on the
poor state of the Aumbry, finding it scarcely fit for use
(where the Blessed Sacrament is ‘reserved’). In the Vicarage loft, I
discovered a framed architect’s drawing of a (1960’s?) plan to
extend and re-model the church. Although the scheme never went
ahead, the drawing suggested that those who came before us had
considered alterations to the building, including re-positioning the
altar and changing the seating. In May 2002, I attended a Church
Buildings seminar at which I met Rex Butland. Two years later, when
our then Inspecting Architect, Richard Meynell retired, Rex was
amongst those the Chairman of the Diocesan Advisory Council
recommended we consider as Richard’s successor.
I soon grew to admire some of the church’s
features – arches, stained-glass windows, and the remaining steps of
a stairway to a former rood screen. At the same time, I became aware
of how far-removed from, and invisible to many of the people the
altar was. I was struck by the disproportionate length of time it
took to administer Holy Communion at the Parish Eucharist. I noticed
how awkward the space at the front of the nave (or lack of it) was
at weddings, funerals and at certain other services. I found it
difficult to gather parents and godparents around the font for
baptisms, and was concerned about the way in which the stone plinth
on which the font is set, conflicts with the space by the north
door. It seemed incongruous that the sanctuary is lit by a
fluorescent light, and some of the other light fittings didn’t seem
to do justice to such a lovely building. Despite the heroic efforts
of Keith Henderson to maintain and repair the sound system, I had a
growing feeling that it was due replacement. I was surprised to
learn how high the electricity bills were, that the electric heating
system dated from 1931 and had only two settings – on and off! I
noticed how embarrassing it could be for those arriving late for a
service. The noisy latch and position of the door caused those
already in church to turn and observe the unfortunate latecomer. I
noticed a plaque commemorating the restoration of the west porch in
1981, and thought it odd that that entrance seemed little used. I
learnt that it was in 1981 that the choir stalls and eagle-lectern
were acquired from a redundant church in Brighton. Despite the fine
craftsmanship, the fact that they had not been originally fashioned
for our church seemed all too obvious. I thought it a little strange
that these furnishings had been introduced just around the time when
many churches were developing plans to create more space and greater
flexibility (as at St Mary’s East Preston, c. 1983).
I concluded that Rustington was still set up as a
‘Matins and Evensong Church’, even though the Church of England had,
for the most part, become much more Eucharistic in theology and
practice. Although the altar had been moved away from the east wall
at some point (probably in the 1980’s) to enable the priest to
preside facing the congregation, it nonetheless seemed ‘hedged
about’ by communion rails and choir stalls, rather than being
allowed to occupy its own space in a more prominent position. Of the
set of altar frontals, the white and the green appeared to be around
fifty years old and were too fragile and dowdy to be fit for further
use. Some handsome pieces of furniture had been acquired for use in
the church, e.g. the credence table in the sanctuary (on which the
communion requisites are placed) given by my predecessor, Ken
Masters in memory of his parents. Other items, e.g. an officiant’s
stall (on wheels) that could be moved from its resting place by the
vestry door, across to by the organ (I heard this referred to as
‘the pram’!) seemed to create an impression of ‘clutter’. The church
seemed ‘over-pewed’, making the aisles too narrow and obscuring the
bases of the striking columns. Although I rarely sat in a pew, when
I did, I found them uncomfortable, with inadequate ‘book space’. The
dark wood surrounded by dark floor tiles contributed to a rather
gloomy overall interior appearance. When we have sought to remove
dust and cobwebs from the rafters, we have found it difficult (and
not a little dangerous) maneuvering ladders in and out of the
immoveable rows of pews.
Despite these observations, I have grown to love
the church. My grandmother worshiped here when she lived in
Rustington (1967-1976) and I remember attending her funeral, taken
by Canon Cobb with my father giving the address. When going into
church, I am often
mindful of the words of
Jacob as he awoke after his dream at Bethel
Surely the Lord is in this place and I did not
know it. How awesome is this place; this is none other than the
house of God. This is the gate
of heaven. (Genesis 28.10)
Please be assured that the sanctity of this
ancient place of prayer is not lost on me. But I cannot believe it
would be right to allow this sacred space to become fossilized in
time. It is difficult trying to devise and lead the variety of types
of service we have in a building where the furniture and fittings
were designed for a pattern of worship now largely superseded, and
when we are hopefully growing in the realization that we are
the Church (as opposed to I go to church).
And so – to echo words written by no less a
figure than the Chancellor of the Diocese, who has to pronounce
judgement upon the changes parishes seek to make to their church
buildings in order to further their mission – ‘The sacred space has
to change’. It has before - many times throughout Rustington
Church’s long history. Some of these changes are described in the
late Morris Heynes’ excellent guidebook to the church. We know of a
few vestiges of the pre-reformation building – e.g. the fragments of
the mensa (stone altar slab) buried beneath the floor of the Lady
Chapel. A plaque set into the floor of the sanctuary (south side)
commemorates the restoration of 1861. Amongst the photographs on the
front cover of Rustington Parish Magazine (July 1919) is one
of the chancel, devoid of furniture save for the altar with a
curtained reredos. A photograph of the Nave and Chancel in Dr
Carruthers Corfield’s A Short Description of RUSTINGTON
CHURCH (1953) shows how the east end of the north aisle was
curtained off as the (then) Lady Chapel, before the vestry block was
added (1958). In the same way that each of our homes have been
re-arranged, extended, adorned, adapted to suit different needs over
time, so have church buildings, ours included.
Following the first Quinquennial Inspection
undertaken by Rex Butland after his appointment as our Inspecting
Architect (2005), the PCC then commissioned a Feasibility Study
from Rex. This was to give us some ideas as to how the building
might be adapted in such a way as to render it more flexible and –
hopefully – more aesthetically pleasing (‘O worship the Lord in the
beauty of holiness’). Once the Diocesan Advisory Council had looked
at them, Rex’s proposals – based on views expressed at a church
meeting in January 2006 - were set out at a subsequent church
meeting in November 2007. Inevitably, perhaps, reaction has been
mixed. Some are enthusiastic about the proposals; a few have reacted
against them, and many have welcomed much of what is being proposed
whilst either expressing doubts about some aspects, or offering
suggestions of their own.
The Churchwarden of a church re-ordered for the
Millennium advocates ‘the 3 P’s’ – Prayer, Patience, People.
We must, individually and corporately, pray that we may be guided to
the right decisions. I know from my previous experience of the need
to be patient! And its important that as many of you, the current
membership, are broadly supportive of the project. The Buildings
Group, led by Keith Henderson, has worked hard to bring us to where
we are. At this stage, we are unable to dot all the i’s
or cross all the t’s. Any refurbishment/re-ordering
scheme is expensive. Thankfully, we will almost certainly be able to
draw on a proportion of a generous bequest made in the 1980’s to
fund parts of any scheme. However, the need for some fund-raising is
inevitable which will present a challenge, particularly in what is
looking to be an increasingly difficult economic climate. Building
work of any kind often involves disruption and inconvenience. There
can be setbacks, delays and extra expense. All these things test the
faith, the resolve and the degree of unity of a church community.
Despite these things, when proper attention is paid to ‘the 3
P’s’ many who have undertaken church projects have found that
if they remain ‘strong and
of good courage, and
act’ and are not ‘afraid or dismayed’ then
He will not fail or forsake you, until all the
work for the
service of the Lord is
finished. 1 Chronicles 28.20
By means of a consultation to be carried out by
members of the Building Group in a few week’s time, you will all
have an opportunity to indicate whether you are broadly supportive
of the proposals (the details of which you will be reminded in the
consultation document), or not. New Testament Greek has two words
for time – ‘chronos’, as in ‘What’s the time?’ and ‘Xairos’,
as in ‘it was time to act’. The Building Group and PCC will be
looking to you, brothers and sisters, in this Year of Our Lord 2008,
to confirm whether you agree with us that we are at a ‘Xairos’
moment in the long history of the Church in this Parish.
May we
‘discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and
perfect ‘ Romans 12.2).
Zachary Allen July 2008
|
