Work has started this week on a major refurbishment at Burnham-On-Sea’s St Andrew’s Church.
The building is undergoing a programme of internal improvements – the first for 40 years.
The project has started this week and follows the external walls being re-pointed last year, allowing the building to dry out.
Vicar Reverend Graham Witts told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We are now in a position to improve the lighting and décor to the inside of the Church.”
“The works are being carried out by Ellis building company, a specialist firm that deals with the conservation of ancient buildings. The work started on Wednesday this week and will be concluded in the first week of May.”
While the church is closed the whole interior of the building will be covered in scaffolding.
Worship on Sundays will take place in the Church Hall at the usual times of 8.00am and 10.00am.
Rev Witts added: “Other churches locally have offered us hospitality to conduct the occasional offices. We are very grateful to the Roman Catholic Church for allowing us to conduct funerals in their church. These services will be conducted by Anglican clergy.”
“This means we can still offer assistance to those in need at the time of the death of a loved one. It is only the building that will be different. We are hoping to make a similar arrangement with another church for baptisms.”
He added: “We hope that this will provide the worshipping community at St Andrew’s and the wider community in its use of the building better lighting and a less drab décor. The last redecoration took place some forty years ago.”
