St Mary's staff share their thoughts

Over the coming months we will be interviewing members of staff, new and old, to find out what they think of the plans for the redevelopment. This month we've been catching up with some of the clergy and staff who were working in the church when the funding was awarded:

 Canon Brian Mountford, vicar of St Mary's:

 “I am delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has decided to make this significant award to the University Church of St Mary the Virgin. It comes after long and careful consultation with local people, national bodies, and professional advisers as to what is best for this iconic Oxford building. In the process we have been helped to think about widening our educational outreach as well as the conservation of the fabric.

Everyone at St Mary’s is looking forward to being part of this challenging development and to the involvement of the local community in the process. As the work goes ahead both the church and theVaults and Gardens Cafe will be faced with considerable temporary restrictions, but the end-product will be a transformation to see St Mary’s through the next fifty years. I would also like to thank once again the Clore Duffield Foundation, the University of Oxford, several trusts and many individuals for donations already made.”

Ruth Rundle, Parish Administrator:

"Working at St Mary’s is an enormous privilege at the best of times but I feel incredibly lucky to be working here at such an exciting time in the Church’s history. I’m looking forward to seeing the transformation occur as the work progresses and even more, seeing the finished product!"

 Will Pouget, founding director of the Vaults and Garden Café:

 "We are very excited about these dramatic improvements to the building particularly those allowing us to host many more events (both private and community based) with much improved facilities allowing more ambitious menus and a greater hospitality service. We are proud also that our vision of using seasonal locally sourced organic& ethical produce has been so supported by the church and that being a part of these improvements will enable us to bring such produce to a wider audience.”

Lucinda Williams, Heritage Education & Volunteers Officer

Meet the Team

In the last month the project team have been busy preparing for the appointment of our main contractor, which will be announced shortly. Once we have the contractor on board we will be able to create a more detailed programme for the works and firm up logistical details for the staff at the church so they can make necessary preparations.

To help with the delivery and management of this exciting project, we have already recruited a number of new team members:

 

Sophie Slade, Project Coordinator 


 

Lucinda Williams, Heritage Education & Volunteers Officer 

 

Nigel Aplin, Project Manager (Construction) 


 

Oliver Caroe, Architect

With a professional project team now in place, November will see the start of Phase one of four phases of building work which are due for completion in December 2012. During this time, the improvements being undertaken will include:

· Extensive repairs to the exterior stonework, including redressing the stone on the iconic 13th-century tower for the first time in a century.

· Cleaning, conservation and restoration of the interior decorations, including windows, memorials, and choir stalls.

· Improved access and facilities for the Old Library, a room that has largely been hidden from view for centuries (funded by the Clore Duffield Foundation).

· Establish St Mary’s as an information and learning centre providing an overview and introduction to the history of the University and of the church building itself.

Lucinda Williams, Heritage Education & Volunteers Officer