UPDATE: BUILDING
MAINTAINING OUR BUILDING by Adam Wiecki and Pastor Mark King
I
n the autumn of last year, along with publishing our plans to develop a second auditorium in the basement area, we announced that major repairs need to be carried out around our building. As well as general wearand-tear, the repairs are mainly due to continued and welcomed use by ECC, ECCJ, Elim Springs and various outside organisations. Our building, built in 1932, was never designed for church use and, as such, we are constantly thinking of creative ways of making things work or fit around our requirements – not an easy task for an old building. There is the daily challenge of trying to work with (or replace) building materials used back in the 1930s, such as asbestos, which are either no longer available or are rendered unsafe and therefore illegal to use. Yet we are still custodians of this beautiful Grade 2* listed building and, as a legal requirement, we are bound to take care of it. Have you noticed the difference in our heating system, especially in the main services? We hope so! With the old system we had, it was a constant struggle to regulate the heat during the winter, which meant that those sitting in the balcony were uncomfortably hot, whilst those downstairs were cold. Over the summer, our maintenance team worked with Nigel Steele-Davis to come
then move on to the auditorium roof.
up with a fan system, which regulates the heat more effectively. This system also acts as a cool air system during the summer as and when required. Since we purchased the building in 1995, we have chosen to make ‘piecemeal repairs’ to our roof over the foyer and auditorium, as they are both 100% asbestos. (The other areas are bitumen.) We chose to do this mainly because of the cost of demolition, scaffolding and replacement, which would have been in the region of £500,000, bearing in mind that our roof space covers almost 2000m². However, in the years that we have delayed giving our roof a complete overhaul, technology has opened up a fantastic solution in the form of a liquid rubber roofing system, which can simply be sprayed onto the existing asbestos roof after it has been prepared. This will guarantee us a watertight roof for up to 25 years - for a fraction of the cost. We praise God for this wonderful opportunity! So, before last Christmas, we employed the services of a company called Rainfast to carry out the roofing project and, despite the wet weather, they have made good progress. Completion of the weatherproofing and repairs over the foyer roof should hopefully be finished as you read this article. The workmen will
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GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 102 • February/March 2020
You will also be pleased to know that an overhaul of our electrical system will commence shortly – again, mostly concentrating on the auditorium and other small areas. The main electrical intake and breakers will be upgraded, with some of the circuitry also being stripped out and replaced with new switches. This will bring our electric system up to a very good standard, and also help us with future upgrades and expansion. Please continue to pray for good weather, so the workmen can complete the roof repairs and waterproofing; there is an ongoing need for finances, and that the work for the development of the basement will progress swiftly. I would also like to give you all the opportunity to contact me if you have any suggestions regarding the building, or how we can utilise it more effectively for the glory of God. You can do this by emailing me at: aw@ecc.org.uk. May God continue to bless you all.
