Re-ordering of St Michael’s

Artists impression of proposed reordering scheme

ENTRANCE PORCH
1 The existing inner oak panelled porch will be retained and will have an assisted opening facility fitted to the double doors, controlled by push pad switches for the use of wheelchair users and persons with disabilities.

NAVE AND NORTH AND SOUTH AISLES
2. The existing fixed pews, raised timber pew platforms and attached dado panelling are to be removed.
3. The whole area, including the existing area of riven paving at the west end, will be re-floored with coursed sandstone paving with a rubbed finish laid on an insulated concrete base, incorporating recessed floor ducts to the external wall perimeter and around the internal stone columns, incorporating under-floor heating which will help provide a more even temperature throughout the space. The perimeter ducts will be covered with cast iron grills, re-using the existing obsolete heating duct grills from the central walkway of the church with additional grills made to a matching pattern.
4. The existing temporary timber nave platform is to be removed and the existing chancel steps exposed.
5. The cleared nave will be furnished with matching new oak fittings of movable short pews and armchairs (to seat 150 persons), a nave altar and related furniture designed and made by Treske, The Maltings, Thirsk, Y07 4NY.
6. Removable seating for 160 persons will be provided by stackable steel and plywood chairs which will be stored in oak panelled cupboards located to the east side of the inner porch.

NORTH TRANSEPT
7. Meeting Room - Crèche
A multi-purpose, self-contained room suitable for small meetings, including training and classroom use, and as a crèche facility for church services and other larger scale events held within the building. The room to provide a single toilet and tea-point contained within a timber panelled enclosure, similar to those in use at the west end of the church.
8. Mezzanine Heritage Area and Oratory
This will be an open upper floor above the meeting room, to provide a separate local heritage study area and oratory for small informal meetings, private prayer etc. The straight flight staircase will be designed to satisfy the access requirements of Part M of the Building Regulations and could accommodate a folding wheelchair stair lift should one be required.

SOUTH TRANSEPT
9. This area will remain largely as existing except that the two existing grave ledger stones will be re-positioned together with the three to be removed from the north transept, to reduce physical damage and improve their appearance. The remainder of the floor will be re-paved to match the nave.

ACCESS TO CHOIR VESTRY
10. The existing flight of three steps will be extended and re-built to accommodate a movable wheelchair platform lift and be constructed in natural stone to match the new paving and the existing stone finish. The lift will also provide wheelchair access to a removable stage to be positioned in front of the chancel steps for concerts and the like.

INTERNAL FINISHES AND DECORATION
11. All areas of defective or perished wall plaster will be renewed with lime plaster and existing modern paint finishes will be removed and the whole interior re-decorated using lime wash for the walls and traditional paints for plastered ceilings and painted roof timbers.

INTERNAL LIGHTING
12. The internal lighting will be replaced with a new comprehensive and fully integrated multi-functional lighting installation designed by Mr Mike Phillips, Lighting Design and Consultancy. The light sources will be primarily located on the side walls at high level and will consist of a mixture of projector flood and focussed spot-lights with wall mounted up-lights.

CENTRAL HEATING
13. The existing gas-fired low pressure wet installation will be retained but will be supplemented by plastic pipe under-floor heating coils to the nave, aisles and north transept.

CHANCEL
14. The chancel will remain as existing except for conservation lead re-decoration and new lighting.