At the 2020 AGM it was pointed out that the carpet was over 20 years old and showing its age. There was also a wedding later that year, could the carpet be replaced. This was agreed.
Following on from this the condition of the floor was discussed. The floor was uneven, very springy and what could be holes in places. It was suggested that if we were going to renew the carpet and repair the floor we look at the possibility of removing the floor entirely.
The void could then be filled in, insulation laid and underfloor heating added. It was agreed that a team would look into this. Further suggestions followed. Could the radiators be replaced? Could we do something with the boards lining the lower half of the walls and could the look of the balcony be improved.
Contractors were contacted and quotations received. Then came COVID. Everything stopped for a short while; however one contractor was willing to go ahead with the work. This never happened because of the uncertainty of covid.
The matter of repairing the floor and a new carpet was still there. After some private discussion Josh and Tony decided they could take the job on and renew the floor using professional help where needed.
Steven Park and family moved in one evening and stripped out the carpet and 100 year old linoleum from underneath it. Some floorboards were lifted in the worst places to see how bad the floor was. It was bad. The floor joists were set on sleeper walls, which in places had collapsed. In some places the floor was held up by fresh air. All the boards were removed so the joists could be examined. One rotten, two rotten, three rotten and so on. One fell apart when lifted.
Then the worst news, woodworm. All the joists were removed. This revealed six sleeper walls, all of which would require repairs. George Longton agreed to come and carry out the repairs. The work was done on a Saturday and finished in the day.
Josh ordered new joists, sheet flooring and insulation. Caton’s favourite joiner, Keith Akrigg, agreed to do the floor but would need a labourer. Tony agreed to do this. A team of volunteers spent two nights putting the insulation in. Keith then laid the new joists and flooring.
He also put a new oak edging around the baptismal pool. As this was happening Mark Ellershaw removed the radiators and replaced pipework ready for new radiators.
The ladies of the church became more involved at this stage. Several of them met to discuss style and colour of radiators and colours for walls when it came to decorating. They also obtained several hundred carpet samples and chose a new carpet.
Next came the walls. Josh and Tony thought, we can do that but we’ll need some expert advice to get us going. Josh contacted a joiner friend who came to look at the job.
Not only did he give us some excellent advice on how to clad the walls and replace the window bottoms, he even provided a joiner to do the job. Andrew Nuttall moved in on Monday morning and finished in the week.
At this point I must mention David Spreadbury. He used the work as an excuse to upgrade the sound system. A lot of old wiring was replaced with new which he put underfloor or behind wood panelling where possible.
The front handrail and spindles of the balcony were removed and replaced with 22mm frameless glass. This work was carried out by Graham Whitely from Wray. This wasn’t without problems. Two glass panels had to be replaced because of scratches on the glass. A day job turned into a three week one.
On to the decorating. Volunteers appeared from everywhere to wash the ceiling, paint the walls and woodwork and varnish the window sills. After two false starts we finally got the colour right. Never trust a colour chart. Finally the carpet could be laid.
Inside the funny little church on the corner is a nice welcoming modern interior waiting for the end of lockdown.
They said it couldn’t be done. Finished in time for the wedding.
