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www.neilstonparishchurch.org.uk |
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Welcome to Church of Scotland, Neilston Parish Church online. |
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Scottish Charity Number: SC035155 Church of Scotland Number: 140757
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Congregational Board |
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Property Committee - Summer Maintenance
Property Committee Members
Mr John J Proud - Convener Mr Alasdair W Alexander Mr Charles W Donnelly Mr J Allan Forster Mrs Marianne Y Lyons Mr William A McCulloch Mr James Taylor Mr Gilbert G Watson Mr Duncan Watt Miss Irene R Williamson
See Contact Us for further information.
PROPERTY COMMITTEE UPDATE
Over the last few months works on the Church Properties have been mounting up, some planned and others by surprise or shock.
As you may have read in the last edition of Contact the summer works planned at the Church Halls did not quite go to plan – mainly due to the lack of volunteers. Those who did assist managed to achieve a fair amount but, by no means, as much as we would have liked. There was lots of cleaning: to chairs, tables, kitchen, etc – carried out! The biggest tasks completed were: painting the railings, installing the new security alarm, re-decorating the passage way between halls - one job which was started but was not completed was the replacing of the lights in the back hall, kitchen, passageway and office – 40% of this is completed. We do have the materials to complete this and the labour is voluntary. The works carried out over the summer came to approximately £3,700.
Works at the Church Halls had to be cut short on 12 July due to the unfortunate arson attack on the Church, which was started with an accelerant being put through the letter box. Some immediate decisions had to be made regarding Sunday Services and a wedding which was due to take place. The services were moved to the Church Halls and the wedding service was relocated to Bourock Parish Church and we thank them for their assistance with that. The Church Halls were made fit for purpose and set up to be used for services. Due to hard work, dedicated contractors, perseverance and God’s guidance, things moved fairly quickly and we were only out the Church for 2 weeks. On the morning of the fire we must extend our grateful thanks to Mr David Dunn who was out walking his dog and to Mr Brian Stevenson, BKM Builders, for their diligence in spotting the fire and their quick reactions in contacting the Fire Brigade: any longer and the damage would have been much worse.
The fire was contained mainly to the vestibule area at the vestry. The vestry entrance door was burnt out at one side and the walls and floor were partially burnt through and there was extensive smoke damage to the vestry, tower and organ - the sanctuary suffered some mild smoke damage. Police Forensics and the Fire Brigade carried out investigations and recovered some items for testing and it was later discovered that the arsonist attempted to break into the boiler house, but thankfully failed – or things could have been very different. There has been no feedback regarding the items taken for forensics.
Insurers gave their approval to have the Church made secure and arranged a visit to assess the damage and agreed to let us have the works carried out using, in the main, our usual contractors and using their recommended industrial cleaners. The whole Church had to be de-contaminated due to the smoke damage and then deep cleaned including the tower, attic space, ceiling (a scaffolding had to be erected to carry out this task), hymn books, bibles, etc. Deodorising equipment was running in the Church for over a week and all this work totalled approximately £10,000. Other works included installing a temporary door and floor, removal of all burnt out timbers, plaster-board, etc, replacing doors, flooring, insulation, making electrics safe, and replacing light fittings, sockets, etc. Radiators had to be removed and ensuring the remainder of the heating was working, return visit to install new radiators and refill the system. All these works totalled £19,550. Other work also required: cleaning and servicing the organ £1,050 cleaning, servicing the clock and replacing the bell rope £360 cleaning of communion linen and robes £380 painting of the vestibule and vestry £1,780 new carpet to the vestibule area £560 Further costs incurred, included the purchase of a new fire-rated safe and an alternative to a letter box. Totalling £1,100. All works are now complete following the fire which totalled £34,780 and we are thankful the insurance is covering payment for the majority of this work.
Our thanks must go to the following contractors: Rainbow International Cleaners – Barr & Maxwell, Joiners & Builders – Paul Hickey Electrical – Commercial Gas Ltd – J Ritchie, Clock Engineers – J A Mackenzie, Organ Builders – Sunhill Dry Cleaners – Central Laundry – Muir Group Flooring – P R Wilson, Painter & Decorator and all sub-contractors used.
After the fire, both the Church and Church Halls were subject to an audit by Strathclyde Fire & Rescue and our Insurance Company. Both came to a similar conclusion with some minor points to address, including a Fire Risk Assessment – which are all in hand.
Just as things were coming back together following the fire we suffered another headache between Sunday 18 September and Wednesday 21 September with the theft of the lead from the vestibule roofs. The west roof was completely stripped and one panel of lead stripped from the east roof. Adding insult to injury we discovered, as have other Churches, that the Church of Scotland Insurance does not cover lead theft. The lead theft was reported to the police but they said that there was not much they could do. Estimates were sought to replace the roof coverings with lead or zinc, which is an acceptable alternative to lead. Prices ranged from £4,000 to £7,000 and as we cannot afford any large unexpected expenditure a decision has been taken to make a semi-permanent repair using layered torch-on mineral felt which should not cost more than £1,500. We are awaiting contractors to carry out this work. Internal damage caused by water penetration through the roofs is mostly superficial. Unfortunately some hymn books have been spoiled. Once the external roof repairs have been carried out and we have dried the internal areas of the vestibules we can then arrange for the painters to come in and re-decorate, the cost of this will be £670 and hopefully the insurance will cover this aspect of the work.
Other jobs which have been completed include servicing the boilers and heating systems for the Church and Halls, which includes our annual Gas Safe Certificates. We have also had the 5-year Fixed Wiring Inspection completed with some minor faults to be rectified. The fire extinguishers have also been serviced. The cost of these works came to £1,840. We are also investigating various avenues for replacing and repairing the louvers on the tower which have rotted due to severe weather.
Total expenditure on the Properties, including the fire and lead theft comes to £42,490.
The Property Committee try to keep on top of running repairs and keep costs to a minimum but with the lack of volunteers and unexpected work and hassle such as the fire and lead theft it is becoming a bigger task than ever!
Every blessing for Christmas. The Property Committee
CHURCH WATCH
Could you please be vigilant around the Church vicinity and note any unnamed vehicles [either registration number, description, or colour]. The contractors we use are, in the main, local or have identification on them. If you are in any doubt of their authenticity please contact: John Proud, Property Convener or William McCulloch, Beadle.
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