Today, Monday November 1st 2021, we formally welcolmed the Mayor of Knutsford, Cllr. Stewart Gardiner to open our new Accessible Toilet and Refurbished Kitchen.
Opening the proceedings, our Vicar Paul thanked all the project team, Judith Broughton (former churchwarden), Owen Daw (researching grants) and specifically Mick Whiteley who project managed this task, which in these uncertain times, and given the challenges of the preceding 20 months is quite remarkable. Paul also thanked Grahame Nairn and Allison Whiteley who prepared the successful grant applications to the Laing Family Trust and Knutsford Town Council who were both able to support us with good grants for this essential church and community project. We also thank the Nationwide Building Society in Knutsford who organised a raffle on our behalf in their branch office. Paul also thanked the congregation for their generosity, and particularly so during the difficulties of the pandemic with church closures and our other income streams severely affected.
Thanks were also offered to the builders, Cumberbirch Construction who were so accommodating during the whole project, and to Graham Holland and Associates, the church architects.
We now have a facility we can truly be proud of. The motto of St Cross which reflects the inclusivity we strive for, is one where we endeavour to make our historic building as accessible as possible for worshippers, for community groups, for anyone who wants to come here.
After the opening speech, Paul offered prayers of blessing for the toilet closet and refurbished kitchen, and the Mayor kindly cut the ribbons.
Cllr. Gardiner responded by sharing that St Cross was the first public building he visited when coming to Knutsford many years ago, for a baptism, and he has always felt welcomed here and supported. He spoke of the need for churches to offer something beyond 'spiritual sustenance'. It is beyond the worship of the church that the fellowship over refreshments after services has been sorely missed for sometime now. We hope to reintroduce this on Sundays when the infection rates are reduced. Refreshments are resuming on Wednesdays as our numbers attending are much lower in the middle of the week.
Thank you Cllr Gardiner for coming to us today to open this fantastic facility, and to everyone who has supported this essential and badly needed facility.
The Mayor, accompanied by Mick Whiteley (Project Manager), and Evadne Beardsmore (Senior Parishioner) opens the Accessible Toilet with the Vicar Paul, and parishioners looking on.
The Mayor sharing a glass of sparkling Elderflower and Rose with parishioners, Wendy, Tuppy, Tilly and Judith in the new kitchen.