APPEAL FOR DONATIONS TO THE RESTORATION If you have in mind to make a donation to help the restoration fund, it would be very helpful if you could make it now. We have not yet received all the bills and are fast approaching the limit of our overdraft facility. We are currently £419,000 overdrawn at the bank
CHURCH OPEN What a joy it was
to return The Blessed Sacrament to the church on Friday
evening after the builders had handed the church
back. The Blessed Sacrament was removed from the
church during the major restoration of 1890 and again
after the destruction of the Blitz. St Osburg’s is
once more a church where The Lord is present. A
booklet is being prepared as a guide to the church and its
features, which I am sure, you will find
fascinating. There is much that we had not noticed
before.link
link
This week the
Tabernacle has been returned to the church and fixed in
position. The consecration crosses have been fixed
to the walls. The new floor has been partially
sealed. The glass screen at the back of church will
be installed this week. The Stations of the
Cross and the Statues will soon be in position. The
material in the liturgical colours is now with the
upholsterer for fixing to the sanctuary screen
panels. The under floor heating has been
commissioned as has the fire alarm. The organ pipes
have been taken from storage in the loft of the parish
hall and repositioned. Some work has to be done on
the organ electrics before it can be tested and
tuned. The roof will soon be completed on the toilet
block. The hall chairs have been taken out of
storage ready for use while the benches are being
transferred to the church. We are reversing the
processes we had to do this time last year in preparation
for the restoration. link
The altar
pieces depicting Our Lady, St Denis and St Lawrence have
now been fixed to the glass within the altar, which is now
complete. It has been decided how to light the altar
pieces. New altar cloths have been ordered. We
will move the Tabernacle over this week and use the small
one we use on Holy Thursday. The consecration
crosses will soon be re-fixed to the walls. The
various doors in the church are being refitted. The
final lower level decoration is continuing. The
floor will soon be sealed. The under floor heating
has been successfully tested, during this hot
weather! The roof structure is nearly complete on
the toilet block. linkAPPEAL FOR DONATIONS TO THE RESTORATION If you have in mind to make a donation to help the restoration fund, it would be very helpful if you could make it now. We have not yet received all the bills and are fast approaching the limit of our overdraft facility. We are currently £419,000 overdrawn at the bank. Our grateful thanks to those who have made donations this week: one of £1,000, one of £150.00 one of £20 and one of £10, £1,180 in all. Thank you.
The altar is now complete, except for the
fixing of the altar pieces depicting Our Lady, St Denis
and St Lawrence. The stencilling above the Sacred Heart
Statue is finished. This is seen in old photographs of the
church. The ornate plinth under the statue of Our Lady has
been restored and the original colours used. A roof will
be put on the toilet block this week.Today (Tuesday) the stonemasons installed the alabaster altar pieces in the altar. On the left is St Denis, Our Lady in the middle, and on the right St Lawrence, holding the gridiron, the method of his martyrdom. link
Week 58 2 July
The tiling of the floor is nearly
complete. The speakers were installed during the
week. Work is well underway on stencilling above the
Sacred Heart Statue. This is seen in old photographs of
the church. The ornate plinth under the statue of Our
Lady has been restored and the original colours used. A
roof will be put on the toilet block this week. link
Week 57 25 June
SOLEMN REOPENING & CONSECRATION OF
THE NEW ALTAR His Grace, Archbishop Bernard, will
celebrate the Solemn Reopening of St Osburg's Church and
Consecrate the new altar, at 7pm Mass on the Feast of St
Osburg, Friday 9th September. We have worked so hard for
this day and long looked forward to it. The carving of
the new altar is now complete. The stonemasons
invited me to chisel out the recess for the relics,
which was a joy on Friday. The top of the altar has now
been brought into church. When the glass panel for the
statues has been installed, then the top will be fixed.
The tiling of the floor is nearly complete. The speakers
will be installed this week. Work will commence on
stencilling above the Sacred Heart Statue. link
link
This week we took delivery of the oak
screen which will be the backdrop to the tabernacle.
The Baptismal Font was repositioned in front of The Lady
Chapel, where everyone will be able to see the Baptisms
take place. The hand carved stone pulpit is now in
place and also the base of the altar. The tiling of
the main aisle is nearly complete, in Victorian minton
tiles, with contrasting borders. The main doors are
in place. The decorators are finishing the lower
levels. The footings of the toilet block are in
place. link
The hand carved stone pulpit is now in
place and also the base of the altar. The tiling of
the main aisle has begun, in Victorian minton tiles, with
contrasting borders. The main doors are in
place. The decorators are finishing the lower
levels. On Friday the concrete foundation for the toilet
block was laid. During the week we will take
delivery of the oak screen which will be the backdrop to
the tabernacle. link
The altar steps have been installed. They
are of polished granite. The tiling of the sanctuary and
Lady Chapel floor is complete. The tiles are oflimestone with terra cotta diamonds at the corners. A large section of the nave floor is tiled, where the benches will go. Two large fossils can be seen in the limestone. The hand carved stone pulpit is now in place. Work will start this week on the groundwork for the toilets.
link
The tiling of the sanctuary and Lady Chapel
floor is nearly complete. The tiles are of limestone
with terra cotta diamonds at the corners. The electrics
are being completed. One aspect is movement
sensors. When someone comes to say a prayer of a
winter’s evening, the lights will automatically come on
for a time, and again if need be, when they leave.
The stone masons have begun carving the base and the rear
of the altar. The link corridor is nearly
reroofed and the side wall has been broken out ready for
building the toilets. When will it be finished? It will be into August before the work is complete, as work started late on the toilets because of financial constraints. link
The altar steps have been installed.
They are of polished granite. This coming week the
sanctuary floor will be tiled. The light fittings are in
place and have been tested. The stone masons have
begun carving the base of the altar. The link
corridor is nearly reroofed and the side wall has been
broken out ready for building the toilets.On Friday the architect and I visited the glazing company in Walsall who will be making the glass screen at the back of Church and approved the final designs for the engravings. In 1890 a major restoration of the Church took place, during which the rood screen at the front of the sanctuary was removed and replaced with an ornate altar rail. (This was destroyed in the blitz). The two brass gates each depicted an angel holding a shield. On one was the symbol of a host and chalice; on the other the symbol of the pelican, feeding her chicks with her own blood. (The symbol of the pelican is seen also in front of the first angel on the Lady Chapel side of the church, and also in the window on the top left of the sanctuary). The new screen at the back of church will have the symbol of the chalice and host on one side, and the pelican feeding her chicks on the other. The motif on the screen for the crèche (next to the choir stairs) will be a sheaf of wheat and grapes. There are Blessed Sacrament symbols throughout our church which is dedicated to The Most Holy Sacrament and St Osburg. link
The light fittings are being installed.
Work will begin this week on tiling the floor, beginning
with the sanctuary steps. This week the stonemasons will
begin carving the stone for the altar.link
Last week the stone pieces were delivered
which will be carved into the altar. The light
fittings are being installed. The tiling of the
floor will begin the week after next. Work is
progressing on the toilet block. link
link
The screed was laid on the church floor
during the week and is now curing. The stonemasons
are carving the stone sections of the pulpit/ambo. The
benches are being refurbished. Preliminary work has
started on the toilet block. link
This week the screed will be laid on the
floor. During the week the sound engineer installed
cabling in the floor for the loop system for those whose
hearing is impaired. It was tested and found to be
very effective in every part of the church. The
stonemasons are now carving the stone sections of the
pulpit/ambo. Preliminary work has started on the
toilet block. link
This week the heating pipes, zig zagging
the church floor, have been clipped on top of the
insulation. This coming week the audio engineerwill install his cable in the floor, for the loop system for those with hearing impairment. The following week the screed will be laid. The stonemasons are continuing to carve the tabernacle plinth; more stone has arrived for the ambo and the altar. We made the 7th payment during the week for £71,250. This brings our overdraft at the Bank to £185,486. But good news! A generous benefactor has given £50,000 towards the restoration. This means that we will most likely be able to include our plans for the toilets, which had been on hold.link
The scaffolding has been taken down,
revealing the timber roof which has been cleaned, and the
painted and gilded angels, as well as the decorated walls.
The stonemasons are carving the tabernacle plinth in a
shelter behind the church. We intend to arrange a day for
the schoolchildren and ourselves to see them at
work. This week the church floor will be insulated
and the heating pipes installed. link
The scaffolding is being taken down at the moment, revealing the timber roof which has been cleaned, and the painted and gilded angels, as well as the decorated walls. The stonemasons are carving the new stone altar, ambo and tabernacle plinth,by hand outside the corridor link to the church. In two of the pictures you can see the uprights of the tabernacle plinth being fashioned. link
linkWeek 37 6th February
The redecoration is progressing and also
the electrical work. The west wall has now been
replastered. The designs for the etchings on the glass
screen at the back of church are being finalised. The
benches are being refurbished.linkThe redecoration is progressing and also the electrical work. The west wall has now been replastered. The designs for the etchings on the glass screen at the back of church are being finalised. The benches are being refurbished.
The decorators are continuing their
preparatory work on the walls and the electricians are
continuing the installation of the conduits.linkThe decorators are continuing their preparatory work on the walls and the electricians are continuing the installation of the conduits.
Week 32 2nd January 2011
Work has stopped while the contractors take their Christmas break.
Week 31 25th December
Work has stopped while the contractors take their Christmas break.
Work continues with the west wall being
replastered, using lime plaster, which has to be built up
in layers. The other walls have been prepared for
decorating. Work is continuing with the rewiring and
the heating system.link
The West Wall is in the process of being
replastered, using lime plaster, which has to be built up
in layers. The other walls have been prepared for
decorating. Work is continuing with the rewiring and the
heating system.link
The beautiful wooden roof structure is
responding magnificently to being sponged with soapy
water, removing 60 years of candle smoke. The west
wall, above the choir, however will have to be replastered
because of previous water ingress. A hoist has been
added to the scaffolding to make this possible. The
Stations of the Cross are being repainted in the original
colours. linkWeek 27 - Saturday 27th November
The beautiful wooden roof structure is
responding magnificently to being sponged with soapy
water, removing 60 years of candle smoke. The west
wall, above the choir, however will have to be replastered
because of previous water ingress. A hoist has been
added to the scaffolding to make this possible. The
Stations of the Cross are being repainted in the original
colours. linkWeek 26 - Saturday 20th November
We are half way through the restoration
work on our Mother Church, St Osburg’s. It is now
completely scaffolded up to the ceiling. The work of
redecoration has begun in the sacristy. The beautifully
designed roof structure and ceiling will be cleaned of all
the considerable candle smoke and dust. Everything seems
sound except for the west wall above the choir which is in
very bad condition, with a section of plaster ready
to fall. The Statues and Stations of the Cross have been
taken away for repainting and work is progressing on the
new heating. To date the work has cost £290,000. I
will soon continue with the appeals in each parish. linkWeek 25 - Saturday 13th November
The decorating begins on Monday in the
sacristy area. The scaffolding will be completed by
mid-week. The Statues and Stations of the Cross have been
taken away for repainting. Work will soon begin on
refurbishing the benches. linkWeek 24 - Saturday 6th November
The concrete floor is now complete.
The heating boilers, vents, pumps and heavy pipework are
in place. This week the church will be scaffolded
ready for the lighting engineers and decorators.
Work will shortly begin on refurbishing the benches. linkWeek 23 - Saturday 30th October
This week the extended sanctuary floor and
step, and the rear of the church are being finalised. linkWeek 22 - Saturday 23rd October
Most of the concrete floor is in
place. This week the extended sanctuary floor and
step, and the rear of the church will be completed.
The two new boilers are in place but not yet connected. linkWeek 21 - Saturday 16th October
This week the new floor began to take
shape; the damp proof membrane is laid on top of the hard
core and sand; the steel reinforcing is in place; the
larger heating pipes are in position in the floor; the
electric conduits are being placed in the floor.
Concreting the new floor slab should begin Tuesday or
Wednesday. linkWhat about the Funding? This week the parish paid the contractors for the Architects’ Payment Certificate No.3, an invoice for £59,551.94. This uses up what remained in the Restoration Fund. We now have to start paying out of the remaining parish savings. To date we have paid Contractors Fees of £139,531.26, Architects’ Fees of £51,761.57, Structural Engineers’ Fees of £5,161.76 and Building Regulations of £177.43, making a total of £196,632. A lot of difficult hard work has been done and we are now beginning to see the results.
Week 20 - Saturday 9th October
Work is continuing on the new floor linkWeek 19 - Saturday 2nd October
It has not ben possible to gain access to the church due to the nature of ongoing work to take photographs.
Week 18 - Saturday 25th September
It has not ben possible to gain access to the church due to the nature of ongoing work to take photographs.
Week 17 - Saturday 18th September
Work has now started on removing the old
floor linkWeek 16 - Saturday 11th September
Work is nearly complete and has been hard
and dirty work, but the results are amazing. linkWeek 15 - Saturday 4th September
Work is nearly complete and has been hard and dirty work, but the results are amazing. link
Week 14 - Saturday 28th August
Work has progressed on stripping the paint
from the stone columns and arches of the Church. It
is nearly complete and has been hard and dirty work, but
the results are amazing. The old lighting system has
been removed. linkWeek 13 - Saturday 21st August
Work continues removing paint from the
columns and restoring them to natural stone linkWeek 12 - Saturday 14th August
Again work continues removing
paint from the columns and restoring them to natural
stone. linkWeek 11 - Saturday 7th August
Work continues removing paint
from the columns and restoring them to natural stone. linkWeek 10 - Saturday 31st July
Work began this week removing
paint from the columns and restoring them to natural
stone.link
Week 9 - Saturday 24th July
BIG
DECISION This week the big decision of
the project was made. In consultation with the
architects it was decided we would have a water based
under floor heating system, the heat source being gas
boilers housed in what was the confessional near the
sacristy. Very serious consideration had been given
to a ground source for the heat using bore holes.
This would be environmentally friendly, renewable, but
financially beyond our reach to install, especially as the
Government has cancelled the Low Carbon Buildings
Programme – Phase 2 funding for heat pump
installation. A new concrete slab will be laid in
the church, which will be insulated. If at a future
date ground source heat became preferable, it could be
linked to the new system. This week the heating
pipes and radiators have been removed. On Monday
work will begin on removing paint from the columns and
restoring them to natural stone. linkWeek 8 - Saturday 17th July
The asbestos removal people
have now completed their work. The stone flooring in
the sanctuary is being removed in preparation for the
underfloor heating. linkWeek 7 - Saturday 10th July
The asbestos removal people
have finished in the boiler house and underground
passageways and have moved into the church. Most
of the sanctuary floor has been taken up. Click on photo
or link
Week 6 - Saturday 3rd July
This week the High Altar has
been carefully dismantled. Likewise the Baptismal Font
which will be refurbished and replaced in front of the
Lady Chapel. The asbestos removal people are working
in the cellar of the house where the heating boilers are
and the passageways for the pipes underground. Click on
photo or linkWeek 5 - Saturday 27th June
This week the front altar has
been dismantled and preparatory work done on the High
Altar. The parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in
Redditch is interested in the front part of the High
Altar. The stonemasons removed the square of
stone over the relics to reveal a silver box, a little
larger than a matchbox, with a red ribbon on it and sealed
with wax. These relics will be placed in the new
altar when it is consecrated. Click on photo or linkWeek 4 - Saturday 20th June
Click on photo or linkWeek 3 - Saturday 13th June
Work has continued during the
week protecting the Statues, Stations and woodwork.
A number of exploratory holes have been made in the floor
as it is not of a uniform construction or level. Click on
photo or linkWeek 2 - Saturday 6th June
Work ha
s continued during the week
protecting the Statues, Stations and woodwork. A
number of exploratory holes have been made in the floor as
it is not of a uniform construction or level. One of the
pictures shows the site manager Derek Monahan, Site
Manager with Father Garry. Click on photo or linkFriday 5th June
Within the Parish
of St Osburgs is the
Coventry Canal. James Brindley, known as the
"father" of the British canal system, was
commissioned to build the canal in 1768. Located on high
ground on the edge of the city centre the Y-shaped canal
basin has fine examples of surviving canal architecture
with more than 200 years behind it. The 5½
mile stretch of canal between Coventry Basin and
Hawkesbury Junction has been transformed from a forgotten
backland into the city's longest park. Combining the
natural peace and beauty of the countryside with
Coventry's rich industrial heritage, the canal provides
the perfect setting for an unusual walk - whatever your
interest. Within the canal basin is a Statue of James
Brindley, known as the "father" of the British canal
system. Fr Garry often has a walk around this area
to better understand the heritage of Coventry. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coventry_Canal.
The photograph shows the bronze statue of James Brindley
and Father Garry, both looking at their plan of
work. James Brindley looking out onto the canal and
Father Garry over his Parish. Click on photo or linkWeek 1 Saturday 30th May 2010 - Preparing the Way
"Midland Conservation Ltd, moved on to the site at 6.30am Monday morning with the delivery of their office, toilets, and storage container; and security fencing. A plumber and electrician connected supplies for them. During the week the carpenters have been protecting the features of the church. On Tuesday the organ builders came and removed a number of the big pipes into the loft of the Parish Hall and sheeted the organ to protect it during the work. Sound engineers removed the sound system from the Church and reinstalled it in the parish hall. Unfortunately it was not possible to transfer the “Loop System”, but a new one will be installed in the Church. On Tuesday also, volunteers moved a number of the church benches into the parish hall. On Wednesday the temporary altar furnishings were put in place. On Thursday the first Mass was said and further work was done on the benches, and all the choir resources were carried over to the hall. On Friday the Statues of the Sacred Heart, and Our Blessed Lady, were taken down, washed and put in place in the parish hall. On Saturday, after the morning Mass, the first Baptism took place. All in all an eventful and happy week!
We are indebted to those who made possible the move from the church to the parish hall. We especially thank Derek Woodward, supported by Veronica, who made the temporary altar, the tabernacle plinth, altered and covered the stage screen, and put up supporting shelves for the statues."
Click on photo or link |
Click on photo or click link |
Sunday 23rd May 2010
Before, Click on photo or link
"Today the Feast of Pentecost, Our Last Sunday in the Church in its present condition. After all our patient waiting, work will now start on St Osburg’s this coming week. We ask the guidance of the Holy Spirit on our project. During the week we will move into the parish hall for Mass and the celebration of the Sacraments for the duration of the work, which is scheduled for 40 weeks. It will probably be February 2011 before we are back in the church. There will be no Mass or Eucharistic Service on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday as we move out of the Church. Help Needed I need three able bodied helpers at 9am on Monday morning to move the Hall chairs into the loft. Please see me. We need two more helpers after Mass on Monday to help clean the Hall. Please see me. On Tuesday we hope to move the required benches into the Hall; the Organ will be partly dismantled and the pipes transferred to the loft; the sound system will be transferred to the Hall. " Canon Gary Byrne newsletter
Easter Sunday 4th April 2010
" GO-AHEAD FOR THE RESTORTION OF ST OSBURG’S The Diocesan Treasurer has given approval for us to undertake the Restoration of St Osburg’s. We have half the money needed for the internal work on the Church and can proceed with that, while we borrow the remainder. We are not at the moment however, in a position to build the toilets or improve the main entrance to the Church. But it is great news that we can start on the main work. There will be discussions with the builders and architects after Easter and I will tell you the programme when it is known." Canon Gary Byrne newsletter