All Saints KingstonAll Saints Parish Church Appeal
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 Up to this pointThe vital work to make the building watertight was completed a few years ago and there is much both to be proud of in what has been achieved, and to be grateful for, to those who made it possible. Last year, Ptolemy Dean, our Architect, suggested further developments at All Saints. These included some imaginative reordering and a new building to be built on the western end of the North lawn. After local consultation meetings, the DCC recommended a preferred option to Ptolemy, who has now consulted with key authorities (English Heritage, the Diocese, Kingston Planning and Conservation). These have all given encouraging support. A way forwardWe are now asking Ptolemy to make these plans more specific, so that a budget can be determined and, later in 2008, formal planning consent can be applied for. Given the ground work that we have already done, we hope that this will be successful and will allow us to move forward with the project as soon as funds allow. The scheme moves the altar from its current position to the centre of the nave, with iron screens to demarcate the East end, installs entirely new lighting and heating systems (the latter being underfloor) and provides a new door into the north transept, giving access from the Clarence Street side of the building. The new annexe will be on three levels, including a basement, providing space for our parish needs but, crucially, also allowing for facilities that others in the Town can use. There is no doubt that what has emerged as our preferred plan is ambitious and it is conceivable that adjustments will need to be made along the way. However, we have not been frightened to have a wider vision for how the church can relate to the Town and how best the church and its community can serve the people of Kingston. Next StepsOur main focus - and great challenge - now is funding. We have been researching significant sources of income that we hope will provide the lion's share of what we need, but hope that people locally and within our church community will feel willing to support the fund rairing efforts we are planning. "Match funding" from within the organisation that hopes to benefit from grants and donations is often a requirement of money being given, so demonstrating our commitment to this project will be important. Jonathan Wilkes (March 2008) Kingston Readers’ FestivalWe are delighted that, once again, the Kingston Readers’ Festival is raising money for the All Saints Appeal, along with the Rose Theatre and reading related charities.On Monday 19 May at 6.30pm in All Saints, Marina Lewycka, author of the international bestseller A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, will read from and discuss her latest novel, Two Caravans. Tender and hilarious, this is a story about a crew of migrant workers from three continents who are forced to flee their English strawberry field in pursuit of their various dreams of a better future. Tickets £8 (£5 under 18s) are available from the Rose Theatre Box Office.
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Contact AddressThe Rectory15 Woodbines Avenue Kingston upon Thames KT1 2AZ
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