Noticeboard & Mission Update 28th August & 4th September 2022

All Saints Repairs Update

The builders BW May will be starting work on the repairs required to the chancel ceiling at All Saints in the week beginning 22 nd August. All Saints will be opened for private prayer as soon as the work has been completed and the church has been cleaned. Our first service at All Saints is likely to be Songs of Praise on 18th September. A further announcement will be made later when the dates have been confirmed.

While All Saints has been closed we have unfortunately noticed a worsening of the cracks in the rear vestry wall and roof apex. The Rochester diocesan surveyor inspected the cracks last week and has advised us to engage a structural engineer to further investigate the issue and advise on next actions. It is likely that the recent hot and dry weather has caused the surrounding ground to contract resulting in some subsidence. When the weather becomes wetter the surveyor suspects there could be further movement in the vestry walls, possibly even reversing the recent movement.

The condition of the Vestry walls and roof apex will not prevent us from re - opening All Saints after the Chancel ceiling is repaired but the surveyor thinks some work will be required later this year and/or early 2023. We will know more when the structural engineer has examined the vestry and reported to us on his findings. A further update will be distributed when we know more.

Parish Calendars — Now Available

Our 2023 Parish Calendars (£10 each) have been printed and can be purchased after most church services. Please contact Christine on christine@fawkhamandhartley.org.uk if you need to arrange an alternative method of collection. We have already sold or have orders for over a 100. Thank you everyone who has purchased so far.

PS. We are already planning the 2024 calendar so please get snapping if you would like to enter next year. Summer photos especially .