Colsterworth Church Statement of Need

Colsterworth Church Statement of Need 1. Introduction The Church of St John the Baptist in Colsterworth is an outstanding example of heritage, in that it provides a physical narrative of over a thousand years of architecture, culture, spirituality and the conflict between science and religion. Embedded in its history we find an indisputable connection with Sir Isaac Newton, a figure of global, scientific significance. This provenance transcends even Newton’s link with Westminster Abbey, though tragically, like many other examples of significant heritage, it is at risk. An article in the Guardian newspaper (8.6.15) reminds us that our significant heritage is largely dependent on the support of small, declining religious communities: ‘Congregations are falling – so what can be done to keep historic churches open?’ One solution is to make the buildings work harder for rural communities. Dr Jill Hopkinson, the Church of England’s national rural officer, reminds us of some of the basic principles of increasing the use, and therefore the longevity of the buildings. She adds that this might involve adding toilets and kitchen facilities; in some places the church could be used as a post office or community shop: ‘We do need to think creatively. Shutting the doors should be the last option, not the first.’ It is our proposal that we go further than this. We wish to make this significant example of heritage a dynamic entity which enriches engagement with history, heritage and creativity. In order to do this, through the establishment of a heritage centre for learning and the arts, we need the addition, at a very basic level, of certain essential facilities. It is only with these changes and improvements that we believe we can keep our fragile heritage alive and preserve the church as a much loved place of worship and vital amenity for the local community. Following site visits from the DAC and Historic England in 2012 and 2015, including additional advice from the Church Development Officer, the Pastoral Secretary, the Historic Churches 1 Support Officer, and the DAC Assistant in 2016, we have amended and adapted our plans accordingly. 2. The Parish Church of St John the Baptist, Colsterworth St John the Baptist is a Grade 1 listed church of Saxon origin and, as such, is one of the oldest churches in Lincolnshire. It is the primary church in the Colsterworth group of churches (with Skillington, Stoke Rochford, Great Ponton, Little Ponton, Stainby and Gunby) in the Deanery of Beltisloe in the Diocese of Lincoln. The church is open daily for visitors. It is located in the centre of the growing village of Colsterworth, which adjoins the hamlet of Woolsthorpe (combined population of 1,713 in the 2011 census), in which is located Woolsthorpe Manor, the birth-place of Isaac Newton in 1642. The local district authority is South Kesteven District Council. 3. Our Mission While the primary purpose of our church is as a place of worship, prayer and spiritual comfort for the residents of and visitors to the parish of Colsterworth, it has international significance as the church of Isaac Newton and his family and national historic significance as a Grade 1 listed building. To capitalise on this, and as a result place us in a better position to share and preserve this historic and ecclesiastical heritage, we need to reorder the church. The Parochial Church Council agreed a Mission Statement to reflect our aims and to guide the Newton Project steering group. Without substantial and sympathetic reordering, this important asset will continue to fall short of fulfilling its mission potential as an important place of worship and spiritual sustenance and continue to appear to undervalue its status as a site of national and international significance and interest. Our mission includes making the church a more welcoming and useful venue in the centre of the village for all members of the local community. The response to our plans from local consultations so far has been favourable, both in terms of promoting the Newton heritage and in making the church available for a much wider range of community activities. To achieve 2 this we need to provide modern facilities as outlined elsewhere in this Statement. We are preparing an application for a Heritage Lottery Fund Grant to support and finance our plans. 4. Why action is needed now Colsterworth Church is typical of the rural churches described in the introduction. The Colsterworth Group has one parish priest with several small, aging congregations. St John’s Church seats 150 people, but attendance at most Sunday services, which occur three or four times a month, is between 8 and 16 people. Larger numbers attend at Christmas and Easter and on Remembrance and Newton commemoration Sundays. There are some weddings and funerals and more frequent baptisms. Annual income averages about £12,000, or £7,000 after insurance and other expenses, which is insufficient to maintain this important example of our national heritage and only just allows us to meet our parish share. Urgent action is needed now to preserve the church as a place of worship, as an important historic building, and to increase its use by members of local, national and international communities. But, as the Leader of the local Brownie pack puts it: ‘The space within the church as it currently stands does not lend itself to sharing the story and showing off the Newton family and local artefacts within it. It is most unwelcoming due to its being inaccessible to all but the fittest, with its steep entrance steps and lack of toilet facilities. The internal space is inflexible due to fixed pews…limiting showing off the artefacts to out-of-the-way edges and corners with poor lighting within these areas.’ (see letter from Ruth Hollis: 18.8.15). Or as the Leader of South Kesteven District Council puts it: ‘There is a great need for community facilities (in Colsterworth) that are easily accessible, that incorporate additional toilets, improved heating and comfortable seating.’ (see letter from Bob Adams: 20.8.15) for which a reordered church is ideally suited. Our participation in Grantham’s biennial Gravity Fields Festival in 2014 and 2016 and opportunities for closer cooperation with the National Trust at Woolsthorpe Manor because of the Newton connection have added impetus for the speedy implementation of our plans. The church is valued by members of the local community and their support for enhancing the church building’s role within the community is clear (see below para 5). Without significant adaptations to facilitate changes of use, however, St John the Baptist Church is unlikely to survive as a place of worship. The Quinquennial Inspection Report (Hutton & Rostrom July 2014) has drawn attention to the need for prompt repairs to the lead and slate roofing, to rainwater goods, to stone-work and windows. To prevent further deterioration and decay, measures to control the problem of rising damp and efflorescent salts are recommended. Until we meet these requirements and the condition of the building is considered good, it would be unwise to go ahead with other improvements and developments, and the condition of the church could deteriorate further. Furthermore, we have been told by the Heritage Lottery Fund that we should be unlikely to have our application for a grant approved without these repairs, which they say should form part of the application for funding. 3 5. The Value of the Church to the Community and the Aims of the Newton Project Why do so few people come to the church? For many years, its use has been largely restricted to Anglican services. People are discouraged from attending for many reasons: the heating from an ancient, underground oil-fired boiler is inadequate and inefficient, and potentially hazardous because of noxious fumes and unsafe heating grilles (see below, para.13); the seating consists of simple, plain, late C19th pews, ‘of limited significance in themselves’ (English Heritage report: 8.8.14), which are uncomfortable and ill-suited for different activities (for further evidence, see below para.12); there are no toilets or catering facilities. For some, the church seems only to accommodate regular church-goers and is not seen as welcoming to all-comers or as being a facility suitable for use by all members of the community. A village survey carried out on behalf of the Colsterworth and District Neighbourhood Plan in 2014 indicated a need for flexible meeting places in the centre of the village. We have found that children’s events, community events and events for disabled people and the elderly are restricted because of the lack of toilets, comfortable seating, flexible space, adequate heating and other facilities. We need to adapt the building to make it easier for visitors with disabilities and therefore more inclusive. We are also attempting to comply with the Equality Act 2010 as fully as possible. The building needs to possess the qualities of a welcoming venue which both serves and is served and sustained by the community. Its focus is faithful, educational and cultural, and it is unique in uniting the ostensibly disparate cultural pillars of science, economics and faith. Isaac Newton was himself a foundation figure in modern science, a natural philosopher, mathematician, theologian, and a man who worshipped here as a person of faith. This makes St John the Baptist Church, Colsterworth an ideal location for education, heritage and the arts. It will include a teaching and learning centre focused on science and faith in Isaac Newton’s life and work. A small team of volunteers from Woolsthorpe Manor, under the direction of their Conservation Manager, is ready to research this (see letter from the Conservation Manager: 19.9.17).

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