Church plans to get an airing

The plans will be the next stage for the reordering of St Mary's Church, which plans to make the 12th century church more suitable for the 21st century and make it more accessible to the community.

The designs, by Glasgow-based architects CRGP, are the result of a six-month consultation held earlier this month and will tackle two of the major parts of the reordering, how the church will be divided providing area for worship and fellowship, and whether a mezzanine floor should be installed.

Once on display the plans will signal the start of another round of consultation on the future look for St Mary's.

Rev David Primrose said: "The architects have been working on revised plans for the adaptation of the interior of St Mary's Church, to fulfil its primary purpose as a place of worship for parishioners now and in the years to come.

"Working with the original proposals and the feedback comments that have been received, the architects will need the Parochial Church Council's guidance on two significant decisions before proceeding with more detailed work."

Mr Primrose said because of the significance of these plans both will be dealt with separately.

Designs on how the church might be separated will be on display at St Mary's Church from Sunday, October 19, and a decision made at the Parochial Church Council on Tuesday, October 28.

Designs concerning the possibility of a mezzanine floor will be on display at the church from Sunday, November 16, and a decision made at the Parochial Church Council on Tuesday, November 25.

Mr Primrose said: "Please do visit the displays and pass on your comments to the Vicar who will bring them to the attention of the PCC. Up-dates will be available in church at the end of each month."

However, once this stage of consultation is complete, there will be another public display of the preferred design before architects begin work on more detailed planning.

For more information about the reordering visit, www.thornburyparish.org