Lutton parishioners thrilled new servery and accessible toilet
A new accessible toilet and servery for refreshments are a welcome addition to a unique village church.
Parishioners at St Nicholas Church in Lutton will continue to fundraise for the facilities, which cost in the region of £39,000, but have also received financial support from Lincolnshire Co-op, Lincolnshire Community Fund, Benefact Trust and All Churches Trust.
Manchester-based Buttress Architects, who are working on St Mary’s spire in Long Sutton, have facilitated the plans with hand made work completed by Steve Strickland & Co.
Churchgoers Cathie Whenman (PCC secretary), Eric and Pat Saxton and Joyce Mayne (church wardens) are thrilled with the completed work.
Treasurer Mandy Tolliday said: “The servery will make things so much easier at weddings, funerals and baptisms.
“The nearest loo is at the village hall and as a proactive church with social events and children’s workshops these facilities are essential.
“We have been fundraising for a number of years with work done on the roof, electric and the boiler.”
The toilet has an automatic light, hand rail, low sinks, baby changing area and is wheelchair accessible with a wooden door in keeping with the architecture of the 12th century brick-built church.
Wooden panelling on the servery matches the existing pews in the Grade I listed building and a rolling unit means it can be moved for flexible use.
Steve Welsh, a senior architect from the firm which specialises in ecclesiastical and historic buildings, said: “ The problem with these buildings that are Grade I listed and every historic church which needs high quality changes and installation comes at a high cost.
“This church is very unique and adding new facilities helps to bring a wider community use to the building.
“Christian congregations are generally dwindling and if we don’t find new use for the buildings they fall into disrepair, the PCC can’t afford to keep them going and they may close and we lose part of our heritage.”
A flower festival during the bank holiday weekend (Friday, August 23 to 26) will further raise funds towards the costs of the new facilities.
The theme is ‘My Favourite Read’ and a pre-festival barbecue is planned for Friday, August 10 in the marquee behind the church at 6.30pm and tickets cost £7.
Open from 10am until 5pm each day, the flower festival will feature floral displays, refreshments, crafts, plants, books and prizes. Help with the event is welcomed.
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