Photo update - Week 33 - 12 January 2012

Here we have a photo update of inside the development. It's really exciting to see the great work being completed as we come in to land on the final stages of this project.

We can't wait to share it with the neighbourgood.

Pigeon shenanigans | Call in Dastardly and Muttley

Well what a fun time we're having at LRBC this week. As well as being our week of prayer we have also been joined some un-invited guests. Four little friends that has now dropped down to three. Pigeons! They have joined us on a wing and a prayer (very droll) in the Sanctuary.

So here we are inventing new ways to catch the pigeon in true Dastardly and Muttley stylee! You'd think our site manger - with a name like Robin would have some insider info on ways to tempt a pigeon.

Come on little fella - take the bait....

Progress: Colours being chosen

Before Christmas the team working on colour schemes met many times. Here we see Susan Fyvie testing colours for flooring, tops and walls.

The colour team are Susan Fyvie, Charlotte Taylor, David Elcock, Jane Brookes and Clifford Patten.

The Lounge Bring and Buy Coffee Morning Success

On Tuesday 29^th November, The Lounge Women’s Small Group held a Coffee Morning and Bring and Buy event to raise funds towards the BUILD project.

There were carols playing, Fairtrade coffee pouring and cake being munched. The Bring and Buy stall that reached almost the entire length of main church building was surrounded by a hive of intrigued Christmas present bargain hunters, eventually raising a tremendous £360 towards BUILD.

We saw around 20 visitors from the Lounge, Pre-School parents and Bright Sparks as well as people who were just walking by, come in and sample the hospitality and delicacies on offer.

Our thanks to all who came along, all who donated items and also a Big Thank You to the ladies of The Lounge small group for all their hard work!

Progress Update Week 24: Framed and plastered

The slide show above shows a progress Update for Week 24 of the BUILD project. You can see that many of the window frames are in place and ready to receive the glass that should be with us soon.

You can also see many areas are plastered or being plastered and some have received their sealing coat.

The view both in from Marguerite Drive and out onto the same road is really now giving a sense of the welcoming, open reach the building now facilitates.

So we all need to start practicing our warm welcomes and smiles to our visitors.

Week 21 - 20 October 2011 Up on the roof

We are now in the 21st week of the BUILD project - time is flying buy. This update is concentrating on what's going on above our heads.

Here you can see two workman from TJ Evers forming the point to our new cupola. They are manipulating the new 'copper effect' material, however all copper thieves should note, it's not copper or metal and has no value - so don't even go there.

This piece will sit atop the cupola which is designed to be a beacon of light both in and out of the new welcome area.

Here we can see the scaffold erected to help the workman construct the cupola. Also the cupola taking shape within.

This is the 'copper effect' material in its natural form before being cut. Very flexible which allows a wrapping of the timber structure below.

Here gain the material showing the flexibility and beautiful glinting 'copper effect'.

BUILD Caption Competition: Post your ideas in the comments

Another day at the office. We'll hunt out a prize for the best caption to this photo. Post your comments with your name in the comments section below this post. LRBC staff David Elcock and Jane Brookes taking Health & Safety to new heights.

BUILD update Church Meeting | 29 September 2011

BUILD update Church Meeting | 29 September 2011

View more presentations or Upload your own.

Progress Update Week 18: The church has got its hat on, hip hip hip hooray!

It's week 18 in the BUILD project since the contractors TJ Evers arrived on site. How time flies when we are having fun. This weeks we have seen another shape added to the outlook on Marguerite Drive, and that's that of the Cupola. Mirroring the form of the older building to the right, but to provide a beacon of light welcoming all approaching from the surrounding streets of Leigh. The covering will take on the appearence of copper, but not the value of copper so should not be a temptation to those who like shiny things.





Cupola: Taking shape. Will allow light to flood in and out of welcome area.










Front of roof space: below is the area where Pre-School will inhabit

 







Let there be light: Natural light is the key, less electricity needed in day time. Good for the environment. These roof lights shine into the Pre-School area.









Men at work: It couldn't happen without them. We thank God for their skills. Or maybe they are building a Subuteo table?









Flat roof: running from hall across to the main worship area.





Up on the roof - looking down on the BUILD project

Here are a couple of photographs taken by Peter from the roof yesterday! (14/09/2011). It's looking good from the top.




However, now we know why the webcam has stopped working - it's been bricked in!

Pre-school children bury BUILD time capsule at LRBC

Children from Leigh Road Baptist Church Pre-school buried a time-capsule today on the site of Leigh Road Baptist Church’s new building development.

Leigh Road Baptist Church (LRBC) embarked on a £1 million re-development project for their home on Marguerite Drive, Leigh-on-Sea in May of this year.

The work which aims to be completed by the end of 2011 will provide:

• a new inviting glass landmark entrance and meeting area
• a bright and inviting worship and performance space seating around 250-300
• an enhanced community hall for events, sports and celebrations
• a new purpose built pre-school facility with internal open-air safe play area
• a beautiful garden and open-air events space for all to enjoy

The children and staff of the pre-school were joined by LRBC Senior Minister, Rev Steven Hembery, Graham Milne and Tom Lawrence of building contractors T.J. Evers Ltd, LRBC Pre-school Managers Jannette Land and Liz Kelly and finally by Jane Brookes LRBC BUILD Project Coordinator.

The time capsule contains local items that show of snapshot of life in LRBC, Leigh-on-Sea and national news on this day in history. Local and national newspapers, photos and programmes of the many groups that meet at the church, a Bible and details of the other community services that are held from the church island site, as well as some work of the pre-school children.

An archive of church website for this day was also buried on a memory stick along with some sample recordings of different church services from LRBC’s weekly podcast.

Steven Hembery said, “We are delighted that every week hundreds of people use the church premises for a multitude of activities. We currently provide a coffee shop, community centre, auditorium, halls, retail outlets and warehouse facilities. However, we desperately needed to modernise our premises – the new development will help us to serve and welcome our neighbourhood more fully. The new upgraded hi-tech worship area, will also allow us to communicate the good news of Jesus Christ in a relevant and accessible way.

Jane Brookes, Project Coordinator added, “LRBC is transforming its complex by enhancing the Pre-School and community facilities. We are creating a contemporary, visible and inviting landmark that drives forward and builds upon over 100 years of services for the people of Leigh.

Until the work is the completed, the church is open for business as usual, with Sunday services and many of the weekly activities still taking place. Updates on what’s on, where and when can be found on the LRBC website http://www.lrbc.org.uk/

Update week ending 12 August

I have added photo's taken this morning:
 
- inside roof of the Main Hall which has been sandblasted and reveals the colour and grain of the wood
- Timbers forming the roof of the new entrance
- Inside the sanctuary where the electrical rewire and heater installation is well in hand

Real progress this week 5 August 2011

The external steelwork is now going up on Marguerite Drive. This will form the new Welcome area with it's arms open wide to the neighbourhood.

Internally work on the electrics and recessed lighting in the Sanctuary is busily evolving.

Progress update: Week ending Friday 15th July 2011

Since the last time I reported there has been lots of activity on site. The observant among you will have noticed the installation of steelwork to the Leigh Road elevation to create the opening for the new pairs of double doors which will give easy access into the garden.

The foundations for the new Welcome area are now complete and good progress has been made to the mechanical installations in the boiler room, Pall Mall Corridor and offices. Electricians are now at work in these same areas installing the fire alarm and smoke detection systems.

In addition to the electricians and heating engineers, there are now bricklayers and carpenters on site working on the Leigh Road elevation.

Should you need more detailed information on any of the above please do not hesitate to contact me. Jane.

Progress update: Week ending Friday 1st July 2011

The Main Contractor, T.J. Evers, has been on site now for nine weeks and after a slow start there is now definite evidence of activity!  Not only has the Parlour been demolished and the existing floor slab removed, the side walls of the Main Hall have been taken down (the side roofs are now supported by props) and work is commencing to lay the new foundations.

Openings have been made to the existing walls to the Pre-school to create areas for the integral children’s toilets, a new kitchen and access to the area between Pre-school and the Worship area which will become a small play area.


Works have progressed generally in accordance with the programme since the last site meeting.

Many people have said that they did not realise the extent of the works; if you would like to see the plans again please do not hesitate to contact Jane Brookes.

Progress: End of Week 6 - Spread far and wide

One moment, I thought we were paying for a new building? It seem that the builders are taking most of it away? Ah, but while on tea break they tell us that 95% of the material they have demolished will be recycled and used again. The beams will be part of a barn conversion in Hockley, the bricks will be used in Rochford and the rubble will be ground down and used on other jobs. The church spreading far an wide - that's the
point isn't it.

Meanwhile the church hall lets it's sides down, but keeps up its standards up by keeping its roof on. Good work lads, enjoy your cuppa.

LRBC's BUILD Webcam now live at www.lrbc.org.uk/build

So you can keep up to date with the progress of the BUILD project from the comfort of your PC we erected a webcam on the spire.

You can now visit www.lrbc.org.uk/build to see the latest happenings (updated every 60 seconds).



With thanks to Charlies Bain for drills and tools, Matt and Sarah at www.ecru.co.uk for embedding the footage into our website and not forgetting the kind people at Belle Vue Motors who lent us the web camera.