8th March 2010

We received a response from the Diocesan Property Committee (that met on 04 March 2010) regarding our proposals for the new church .

The proposal was considered on both a technical and practical viewpoint. As with the Plans Sub-committee the design and building style features were generally found acceptable. However due to other concerns the plans were not given great attention. The Committee, including the Bishop, had a number of main concerns which were:

1. The high cost of the initial phase of the project,
2. The fact that 30% of the cost of Phase 1 is dependant on the sale of the present church premises without a formal valuation having been done and without having secured Diocesan approval,
3. The lack of detail of the parish’s fund-raising plans
4. The high cost of the project as a whole.

As a result of these concerns no formal approval could be given. It must be emphasised however that Bishop Rubin does not wish to convey any thought of rejection of the proposal but is wishing to be encouraging of it and wishing to assist in moving it forward carefully, acknowledging the importance of the development to the parish and ultimately to the Diocese.
Arising from this Bishop Rubin wishes to meet with the parish formally to become more au fait with the proposal and the parish’s thoughts and plans to proceed. He will of course make contact with you in due course.

You are requested to firstly, obtain a valuation of the existing church property and its surrounds and, secondly, to spell out the parish fund-raising plans in more detail. Once you have obtained the information you should include it in a revised business plan for Phase 1 for submission to the Diocese.

Arnie Glasspoole
PROPERTY MANAGER