Take a pew
The phrase ‘Take A Pew’ has a new meaning in Herefordshire where a unique scheme is not only recycling old church seating but ensuring parishes get a better deal and giving work to people with special needs.
Take A Pew is a positive spin-off from the Diocese of Hereford’s groundbreaking work in developing church buildings for community use while ensuring they remain open for prayer and worship.
The scheme has been set up by the Diocese in partnership with the local authority and EnviroAbility, a not for profit company that works on projects that benefit the community and are good for the environment. It enables a church to benefit from the re-use of pews that are removed to create more flexible spaces. Congregation members and others whose church is removing some pews, get the chance to buy a pew cut to their requirements for use in their own homes.
Martin Neicho of EnviroAbility, who is administering the scheme, said: “The result is a unique and functional piece of furniture that incorporates an element of local history.”
The Diocesan Community Partnership and Funding Officer,
Wendy Coombey, said the scheme would bring benefits all round. “We are leading the way in the Church of England in the development of our buildings for the use of the community and schemes sometimes include the removal of some or all the old pews,” she said. “People are often sad to see them go but don’t have room for one in their homes because they’re so big. Now we have a solution that works for everyone,” she added.
Examples of Take A Pew in action include St. Peter’s Church in Peterstow where pews in the nave are being removed and a screen erected to allow a kitchen and toilet to be installed. The rest of the nave space will be used for lunch clubs, yoga, play sessions for under-fives and meetings of the village gardening club. The chancel will remain a space for regular worship, which can overflow into the nave for special occasions. At nearby Peterchurch, in another unique collaboration, the PCC were handed a cheque for £1500 after the recycling of their pews; the nave is to be home to a local authority Children’s Centre.
Churches taking part in the scheme will be able to sell the pews to those who want them at a reasonable price, rather than, as happens now,
selling unwanted pews at less than their market value to companies that go on to make a big profit.
“This project, the first of its kind anywhere in the country, will mean that a church will get a fair price and at the same time create opportunities for people with disabilities and others facing difficulties in the job market,” added Martin. Under the project they work alongside carpenters from Herefordshire day care centres, giving them the opportunity to improve their confidence and self-esteem.
“It also means that pews are likely to stay in the local area. We will put a plaque on the recycled piece and supply information about the church it came from,” Martin added. Their next church for Take A Pew in the Diocese of Hereford is just over the Welsh border at Discoed.
Anni Holden, Director of Communications, Diocese of Hereford
a.holden@hereford.anglican.org www.hereford.anglican.org www.enviroability.org.uk
Rev Simon
Lockett and some of the Take A Pew workers
18
www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk
rural communities
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