A Living Workshop - Crafting Renewal at St Mary’s

By Barry Richardson

This week's visit to St Mary’s revealed a fresh shift of activity. The external scaffolding on the North side has been largely removed, and the pace of activity within the building is unmistakably gathering momentum.

In the soft autumn light, the newly replaced stonework in the crenellations caught my eye—its fresh surface glowing against the older, weathered neighbours. A quiet testament to renewal - not replacement, but respectful continuation.

Inside, the usual peace of the church was replaced by the sounds of hammers, hand saws, and drills — each contributing to a rhythm of purposeful industry. It’s not the silence we’re used to, but it’s no less sacred. I found myself reflecting on the skills at play: joinery, tiling, masonry and plastering. These are crafts the original builders of this historic mediaeval masterpiece would recognise instantly. Though the tools have changed, the techniques remain timeless—echoes of hands long gone. 

These foundational skills endure—and as the building refreshes itself to meet modern needs, they enrich St Mary’s once again in the latest modernisations of this sacred space. The church’s purpose—as a place of worship and welcome—remains steadfast, now gently and purposefully being extended by modern additions.

With the end of the works now well within sight, and plans to reopen beginning to surface more publicly, I am beginning to feel anticipation and excitement. Soon, we will all be able to see, touch, feel - and use - the new additions—each one shaped by care, continuity, and a clear intent to support purposeful outreach and community life.

Magnus Room Taking Shape

The Magnus Room is quietly beginning to reveal its character. A bespoke door frame, carefully crafted, was laid out on the carpenter’s trestles—stately, strong, and with ecclesiastical proportions. It hints at the welcome to come.

Tiling is being reinstated across the floor, while overhead, industrial piping remains visible—a quiet counterpoint to the craftsmanship below, and a reminder of the solar and heat pump infrastructure supporting this transformation.  Already, it promises to be something quietly extraordinary

Image: Tiling underway in the Magnus Room, with exposed ceiling piping. View looking directly West. 

Image: Magnus Room door frame set out on trestles.

Café, Kitchen and Toilet Block Progress

Still veiled and dwarfed by scaffolding, the generous café area waits quietly as ceiling inspections continue.

Meanwhile, the kitchen and toilet pod nudges closer to completion—its clean external lines and compact, efficient layout ready to support future gatherings.

Image: Diagonal view from the South Porch into the café, with the Magnus Room visible to the right. 

Image: Kitchen pod viewed from the Central Aisle, looking South toward the West Door.

Looking Ahead

Next week’s blog explores the evolving vision of accessibility at St Mary’s—what it means, why it matters, and how it’s being woven into the building’s very thresholds. It stems from a recent discussion with a member of the Project Team, where we both realised I’d been viewing the accessibility ambition more narrowly than intended.

We’ll also take a closer look at the church’s doors—including one whose quiet presence has long intrigued me.  It’s a door I’ve passed countless times, yet it still poses a quiet question: why is it there—and what story does it hold…?

In both the grand gestures and the quiet details, St Mary’s continues to ask: who do we welcome, and how?