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Gardens are being built which can be read in a variety of ways over the same journey. The overarching narrative in the 19 garden rooms that are being created is the way Christianity has engaged with Manx culture over more than 1500 years. In summary the Cathedral grounds are designed to be viewed in at least ten ways.
'The Corrin Memorial Church Hall', as it is officially known as, was built in 1922 and on completion was gifted to the Vicar and Wardens of German and serves the community in social and sporting functions. Since then the hall has been added to with an extension built in 1957, known as 'The Annex'. The Annex is now used as the Song School.
The older part of the Corrin Hall is a rather paired down version of the Arts and Crafts movement style influenced by local designers such as Mackay Hugh Baillie-Scott (1865-1945) who lived in the Isle of Man from 1889-1901 and produced a number of buildings including Onchan Village Hall. The Annex is a poorly insulated flat roofed addition, which has two features of the older building applied to it; the local brick at lower level and pebbledash at the higher level. In 2019 this is in the process of being modified further by the installation of new double glazed windows matching those of the older hall.
The boundary walls of the site are sometimes as much as 2 metres high and vary from random sandstone walls (though slate is also included) to walls that have piers with infill at the upper level of either a simple wrought iron railing or a more decorative Gothic style infill. There are three sets of gates in various states of disrepair:
| Ref No | Item | Rarity | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | The stained glass windows | The quality of the stained glass is good overall, though the maker is not the best known (Alexander Gibbs of Bloomsbury Street, London). | Moderate - high |
| 5 | Font | Pleasant architectural feature. Similar designs can be found in hundreds of Victorian churches. | Moderate |
| 6 | The pulpit | Pleasant architectural feature. Similar designs can be found in hundreds of Victorian churches. | Moderate |
| 7 | The reredos | The reredos is a pleasant architectural feature. Similar arrangements can be found in hundreds of Victorian churches | Moderate |
| The panels in the apse by John Nicholson | John Miller is highly thought of locally on the Island. The deterioration of his work at St Thomas makes this work more important. | Moderate - high | |
| 8 | The Altars (movable) | The Cathedral Altar is a pleasant architectural feature similar designs can be found across the Island. | Moderate |
| The Nunnery Altar is a pleasant architectural feature from the front. Its distinctive feature is its altar stone. It is not well suited visually for westward facing because of its unfinished east side. | Low |
In terms of:
i) Its special architectural and historical interest ii) Significant features of artistic or archaeological interest
The significance is generally accumulated knowledge over a long period of time with many people putting in their comments. This includes:
i) Its special architectural and historical interest
The Cathedral in relation to Architecture in the British Isles generally is very much an 'off-the-peg' Victorian building with dozens of church's that broadly follow the same format. Specifically there is the church of St Michael Garston, Liverpool, (built by the same Liverpool practice between 1875-77) which is almost its double and is listed Grade II.
The building has experienced a number of tragedies in its short life. There was a decision, whilst building works were progressing to add a spire. While this was very elegant, the pressure on the tower was so great that both spire and tower were taken down and only the tower replaced, though the foundations were sufficient when built the second time to take a spire.
Note: A very recent re-modelling done on the lines proposed by the Cathedral is the 13th century Holy Trinity Church, Minchinhampton, Stroud, Gloucestershire, a Grade I listed building (See Church & Heritage Building Issue 172 July/August 2018 page 54-57 Project)
ii) Significant features of artistic or archaeological interest
This is not an exhaustive list of Cathedral features, but contains the most significant elements. For the full list reference should be made to the Cathedral Inventory.
| High | important in terms of the British Isles or globally |
| Moderate - High | Highly valued in the Isle of Man and perhaps further afield |
| Moderate | Important to the Isle of Man (or in the case of vernacular architecture a good example to be valued in the British Isles or beyond) |
| Low - Moderate | of local value or interest to the people of the Isle of Man |
| Low | adds little or nothing to the value of a site |
| Zero | detracts from the site |
| Ref No | Item | Rarity | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bishop Wilson's Portrait (movable) | One of a pair. Uniquely in both these paintings the Bishop is shown with a map of the Isle of Man in his hand rather than the customary Bible. | Moderate - High |
| 2 | Bishop Wilson's Chair (movable) | Associated with ‘Convocation’ instituted by Bishop Wilson | Moderate |
| 3 | Bishop Wilson's Bureau (movable) | Associated with Bishop Wilson (There is a much finer buereau in the Manx Museum) | Moderate |
| Ref No | Item | Rarity | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | Church plate | The quality and rarity of the silver varies from unique and globally important (Knox), through all the grades to low importance | High through to Low |
| 31 | Registers | Current Registers are held at the Cathedral. Historic registers are with the Diocesan Archives at the Manx Museum in Douglas | N/A |
| 9 | Bishop Rowley Hill's Chair and footstool (movable) | Pleasant architectural feature and similar designs can be found in hundreds of Victorian churches | Moderate |
| 10 | Congregational pews (movable) | The pitch pine pews are in poor order and are unlikely to be the original ones designed for the building. | Low |
| 11 | Eagle lectern (movable) | Pleasant architectural feature, industrially produced. Many examples available. | Low - moderate |
| 12 | Organ | Described as ‘a Second rate instrument made of third rate parts’ - John Pyke Mander. It was significantly modified in 1973 when the third manual was removed. There have been recent attempts to improve it, but it falls far short of the standards required of a Cathedral instrument. | low - moderate |
| 13 | South Vestry (i) Wall safe | 1 small safe inserted in wall (Milners, Liverpool and London) black with brass knob handle | Low |
| (ii) Free standing safe (movable) | 1 large upright metal safe with double doors (FW Whitfield & Co – Safe & Door Manufacturers, Birmingham). Functional value | Low | |
| Fireplace | Imported stone with simple pattern | Low | |
| South Vestry Panelling | Variable quality with poor additions and alterations, some of them of poor quality | Low through to zero | |
| 14 | Communion Rail | Gothic communion rail, with arches that match front pew rails in the Nave. | Low - moderate |
| Two front Pew Rails | Gothic arches that match the communion rail in the apse | Low - moderate | |
| 15 | Bells and Bell frame | One of only two sets of bells on the Isle of Man that needs a team to ring them. | Moderate - high |
| 16 | Flooring Apse | The elaborate encaustic tiles are common in Victorian churches and domestic settings, but are a pleasing feature of the period. | Moderate |
| Flooring Choir | The decorative encaustic tiles are common in Victorian churches and domestic settings, but are a pleasing feature of the period. | Moderate | |
| Flooring Nave and Aisles | The plain tiles are common in Victorian churches and domestic settings. The tiles in the Cathedral do not have a centralised pattern and every new length has an uncomfortable join. | Low |
| Ref No | Item | Rarity | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | Oak Screen | Pleasant architectural feature. Similar designs can be found in hundreds of Victorian/Edwardian churches. | Low - moderate |
| Pine Screen | Pleasant architectural form, especially arched area visible from the Choir. Similar designs can be found in other Victorian/Edwardian churches of the period. From the point of view of the interior of the room it does damage to its symmetry. | Low - moderate and also zero |
| Ref No | Item | Rarity | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | The choir stalls | Pleasant architectural feature. Similar designs can be found in hundreds of Victorian. | Low - moderate |
| 19 | Manx Millennium (1979) Hanging (movable) | Vernacular craftwork. It has been located in different parts of the building. The setting is not important. | Low - moderate |
| 20 | Bishop's throne (movable) | Not especially well designed, but unique to the Cathedral | Low - moderate |
| 21 | Spittall Porch | Unique to the Isle of Man, showing sophisticated use of the Celtic Art-nouveau style by Christopher Spittall. The porch frame itself is not of high quality | Moderate (Frame low-zero) |
| 22 | The Treasury | The fame is well designed and executed in oak and fulfils a functional purpose for display and security. | Low - moderate |
| 23 | The Corona | Pleasant architectural feature - similar designs can be found in a number of churches across the British Isles. There is a smaller one at St Olave's, North Ramsey. | Low - moderate |
| 24 | Cathedral Chapter Board | The record is more important than the board itself, which is of a light oak veneer. | Low |
| 25 | War Memorial | T.H. Royston of Douglas. This is difficult to evaluate artistically, but because of what it is it has immense value. | Moderate - high |
| Ref No | Item | Rarity | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Icon of St German (movable) | Modern iconography by Amanda de Pulford of Kent | Low - moderate |
| 27 | The Menorah (movable) | The largest Menorah in any Anglican Church made from spent missiles in the Palestinian/Israeli Conflict. | Moderate - high |
| 28 | Replica of Chartres Labyrinth | Created in Bali by Ongky Wijana | Moderate - high |
| 29 | Collection of Sculpture in gardens | This may of course be re-assessed over time as various sculptors work becomes re-evaluated in the future. | Low - moderate |
| Ref No | Item | Rarity | Value | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Congregational pews (movable) | The pitch pine pews are in poor order and are unlikely to be the original ones designed for the building | Low | Registered building consent not required for removal as not fixed |
| 14 | Two front Pew Rails | Gothic arches match the communion rail in the apse | Low - moderate | Suggest re-use in new scheme |
| 16 | Flooring Nave and Aisles | The plain tiles are common in Victorian churches and domestic settings. The tiles in the Cathedral do not have a centralised pattern and every new length has an uncomfortable join. | Low | Recommendation covering these tiles in-situ if it does not compromise the heating system |
| Removal of the modern dais | The dais is chipboard with a combination of light oak trim and veneer at steps, while the platform is covered in carpet. | Not classified | Dispose of |
Jonathan Kewley (Lily Publications, 2009) Jacqui Turner BSc, MCD, MRTPI (Former Trustee Cathedral Quarter Trust)
web sites:
The impact of the new Cathedral floor (and underfloor heating):
This will involve blocking up an internal door, but the actual opening, stonework and oak door will be incorporated into the new scheme either as a cupboard or as the new kitchen door, so there will be minimal impact on the historic fabric.
No key features lost
The proposed kitchen within the former ‘south’ vestry will affect four features: the wall safe, the free standing safe, the fireplace and the wooden panelling. A kitchen environment requires easily cleanable surfaces for walls, floor and ceiling with as few corners as possible and floor trim that curves up the walls. The existing features of the room are incompatible with the kitchen and if any features are to be retained they would have to be moved to another space.
The impact: Areas affected
This will create a draught lobby by the inclusion of automatic glazed doors within the archway of the historic entrance lobby. Modification to the internal timber porch to create an additional doorway into the Cathedral from the porch on its east side. The impact: Areas affected
| Ref No | Item | Rarity | Value | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | South Vestry (i) Wall safe | 1 small safe inserted in wall (Milners, Liverpool and London) black with brass knob handle | Low | This could be relocated in the new upper vestry |
| (ii) Free standing safe (movable) | 1 large upright metal safe with double doors (FW Whitfield & Co – Safe & Door Manufacturers, Birmingham). Functional value | Low | Free standing so not requiring Registered building consent, but will be re-used | |
| Fireplace | Imported stone with simple pattern | Low | This could be relocated to the Corrin Hall Lobby if it can be safely removed | |
| Panelling | Variable quality with poor additions and alterations | Low through to zero | This would be lost as it is not suitable for a kitchen environment. The wood where good enough will be reused in on-going building works. |
| Ref No | Item | Rarity | Value | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Flooring Nave and Aisles | The plain tiles are common in Victorian churches and domestic settings. The tiles in the Cathedral do not have a centralised pattern and every new length has a poor match. | Low | Recommend covering tiles in-situ if it does not compromise the heating |
The division of the room by providing a first floor level needs to take account of the current doorway to the outer area, which will become a cupboard. It also needs to protect the window, while at the same time providing light to the ground floor and the upper level.
The real advantage of this new room aesthetically is that it can potentially enable the roof space to have a life of its own (at present it is rather ignored). The proposed Columbarium gives purpose to the arcade to the north side of choir.
The impact: Areas affected
| 21 | Spittall Porch | Unique to the Isle of Man, showing sophisticated use of the Celtic Art-nouveau style by Christopher Spittall. The porch frame itself is not of high quality | Moderate (Frame low-zero) | Protecting the glass and incorporating it into the new scheme |
The new opening into the proposed kitchen will require the re-location of the portrait of Bishop Wilson, but this may be simply a case of moving it along the same wall. The opening will match that of the door that already exists in the North transept.
| Ref No | Item | Rarity | Value | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | Oak Screen | Pleasant architectural feature and similar designs can be found in hundreds of Victorian/Edwardian churches. | Low - moderate | The new central doorway will use the structure of the panel |
| Pine Screen | Pleasant architectural form, especially arched area visible from the Choir. Similar designs can be found in other Victorian/Edwardian churches of the period. From the point of view of the interior of the room it does damage to its symmetry. | Low – moderate and also zero | The screen will be visually unaffected | |
| Doorway between Flower Room and North Vestry | Matches other doorways in the Cathedral (stone surround and oak doors) | N/A | Stonework to be retained in design. Door to be re-used in South Transept giving access to kitchen |
The proposed opening below the main south transept window is part of an approved planning Consent for the building of the Cloister that connects with the south transept and the south porch (Planning Reference 14/00066/GB & 14/0067/CON).
Currently the South Transept is the only dead end in the building and is dark. The new opening will create a good deal more light in the south transept, and will not interfere with the stained glass window above it. The opportunity should be taken at the same time as proposed structural works to secure the walls of the south transept, which have moved at some stage in their history.
Consideration might be given to the relocation of The Chapter board, though of itself it is considered as having little value. The impact: Areas affected
“a document setting out the justification for the proposals” and stipulates that “If proposals are likely to result in harm to the significance of the church or other building as a building of special architectural or historic interest, the document setting out the justification for the proposals must set out the basis on which it is said that the proposals would result in public benefit that outweighs that harm”.
An overview of the parish and the current use of the building.
The Cathedral since 1980 has moved from being simply a parish church serving the people of Peel, to being the Mother Church of the Diocese of Sodor and Man. As such it serves the ‘city’ of Peel with its population of over 5,000 and the Isle of Man as a whole with its population of just under 85,000.
Each day there is a minimum of two services (morning and evening prayer) with the addition of a Eucharist on Feast Days and Wednesdays. On Sundays there are three services: two of which are the Eucharist and one Choral Evensong.
The service pattern is as follows:
| Ref No | Item | Rarity | Value | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bishop Wilson's Portrait (movable) | One of a pair. Uniquely the Bishop is shown with a map of the Isle of Man in his hand rather than the customary Bible | Moderate - High | Moved. But remain on the same wall |
| 24 | Cathedral Chapter Board | The record is more important than the board. | Low | Consideration should be given to relocation and if that is not possible a new board should be created for another space. |
The occasional offices (Baptism, Marriage and Funerals) have variable numbers. A large funeral can be as many as 400 people, a baptism is more likely to be 50 - 100 people. There might be an additional 80 of these services in a year (in 2017 there were 21 baptisms, 17 weddings and 42 funerals associated with the Cathedral).
The Electoral Roll of the Cathedral as at August 2018 was 129. These are people who might consider that they belong to the Cathedral in one way or another.
The age profile of the congregation is becoming lower over time. This is in the main due to families attending associated with choristers and the Choristers themselves.
Young people’s activities include, young people’s class and crèche alongside the main Sunday service weekly. Messy Church monthly on a Saturday. Children’s Area for informal use by young people overseen by parents alongside every church service.
In addition there are curriculum visits to the Cathedral and garden, which may involve one class at a time (30 children) or a carousel of up to three classes operating in three groups, for example, in the garden, in the Cathedral and in a classroom environment.
Other activities take place, for example, a drop-in youth club, Music and Song practice which use the Cathedral Hall as the base.
| Monday – Saturday | Nature of Service | Average Attendance |
|---|---|---|
| 0900 | Morning Prayer | 6 |
| 0930 (Wednesdays and Feast Days) | Eucharist | 12 |
| 1730 | Evening Prayer | 6 |
| Sunday | ||
| 0830 | Traditional Said Eucharist | 15 |
| 1030 | Choral Eucharist | 50 |
| 1530 | Choral Evensong | 35 |
The Cathedral is open daily from 9am – 6pm. In the summer months (May – September there are Cathedral Guides and Chaplains on hand between 10am – 4pm.
Ad hoc events take place from time to time, for example, monthly concerts, banquets and other social events. There are also diocesan and ‘National’ services, for example, The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. These latter events tend to have large numbers and put an impossible strain on the cathedral facilities such as catering and toilets. Occasionally portable toilets are hired.
The Cathedral finances are divided into three main areas:
The summary of the Cathedral Financial Position in August 2018 is as follows:
| Activity | Age Group | Time | Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children’s Area | 2-5 | Always available | Up to 6 |
| Sunday School | 4-11 | Sunday 1030 | Up to 10 |
| Curriculum Visits | Primary and Secondary | School term time booked on an ‘ad hoc’ basis. | 30-90 (1 – 3 classes) |
| Chorister/ Choir Practice | 7-13 Choristers Adults | Wednesdays 1600-1700 Thursdays 1600-1700 Sunday 1400-1500 and before all Diocesan services | 20 20 |
There is currently £172,000 available for remodelling the interior of the Cathedral project in the account of CQT. It is recognised that this a relatively small sum of money, for a project which is likely to cost in the order of £1 million, however until Registered building, Planning permission and Faculty consent have been gained we are not in a position to begin fundraising. The existing funds have come from the congregation. There are number of key Trusts that will be approached relating to this project once the go ahead has been given. (The strategy for fundraising is available on request)
The most recent Quinquennial Report was undertaken by John Gray Consulting Structural and Civil Engineers in January 2017. The major issues highlighted in the report are summarised in the following Table:
A Urgent, requiring immediate attention B Requires attention within 12 months C Requires attention within the next 18-24 months D Requires attention within the quinquennial period E A desirable improvement with no timescale M Routine items of maintenance
| Account | Overall Funds | Project | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CQT | £242,000 | £172,000 | The priority project is the interior of the Cathedral |
| MAF | N/A | N/A | Deals with Music and Song School |
| V & W | £100,000 | Repairs | Allocated for South Transept repairs £22,000 |
| Area | Requirement | Level of Urgency | Date of Planned Action | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 Roof | keep under review | E | Jan 18✓ | Annual Maintenance Budget |
| Missing slate (East slope of S Transept) | B | Jan 18✓ | Annual Maintenance Budget | |
| clean gutters | M | Jan 18✓ | Annual Maintenance Budget | |
| drainage pipe in valley gutter | M | Jan 19 | Annual Maintenance Budget | |
| 4.2 Walls | ‘Cintec’ anchors on south transept reviewed | D | Undertaken in association with development of new entrance | £22,000 V & W Account |
| Rolling programme of new mortar pointing to replace cement | D | Nothing planned to date Cost £100 per square metre excluding scaffolding | No funding available (budget £300,000) | |
| Monitor woodwork for dampness | B | Nothing planned to date | Annual Maintenance Budget | |
| Tower 4.3 | Tower masonry stone wrongly bedded | D | Nothing planned to date | No funding available (budget £100,000) |
| Remove flaking stone above entrance | B | Inspect Jan ‘19 with cleaning of gutters | Annual maintenance budget | |
| Fixings checked on clock | not known if action required | Inspect Jan ‘19 with cleaning of gutters | Annual maintenance budget (Contingency for action £10,000, but no funds) | |
| Herbicide treatment at the top of the tower | B | Summer 2018 | Annual maintenance budget | |
| Floors 4.4 | No action | |||
| Windows 4.5 | Replace wire protectors with polycarbonate sheet | D | Nothing planned to date | No funding available (Budgeted cost £10,000) |
| Stained glass repairs | D | Nothing planned to date | No funding available (Budgeted cost £10,000) |
There have been a number of major maintenance projects in recent years which have included new rain water goods to the building 2016, re-pointing in association with other works e.g. on the Tower and on the west wall when the great west window was repaired (2014). There has also been a new roof on the tower 2014. The building was re-wired in 2012 and in 2017 lamps were changed to LED. The clock mechanism was restored 2015 and new gas boilers were installed in 2016.
The major tasks for the future are repointing requiring the removal of cement and replacement with mortar. This will be phased to coincide with other works, for example, the building of the Cloister and the south elevation.
There are a number of severe constraints which limit the use the Cathedral can be put to for non-worship uses:
There are many other constraints, for church users, but are tolerated, for example, the lack of an appropriate vestry, an organ that is wrongly orientated and too enclosed to project the sound into the Nave.
The Cathedral, which receives no public funding and no funding from the Church of England, is financial unsustainable without new income streams. In order that such income streams are possible there needs to be a major upgrade of facilities.
To encourage more people to experience the Cathedral, either for worship or as a visitor or user, we need to make the building more welcoming and responsive to the needs of the community.
| Ferramenta on windows to be repaired /painted including south apse. | D | Nothing planned to date | Funding £1,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Transept | D | With development of new entrance in 'South Transept' | See 4.2 above | |
| Rainwater Goods 4.6 | No action required | |||
| Drains 4.7 | No action required | |||
| Canopy over pulpit 4.8 | No action required | |||
| Electrical & Mechanical installations 4.9 | Annual review | M | Cathedral re-lamped 2017 Certificates in order | Annual maintenance budget |
| Internal decoration 4.10 | Touch up in places with breathable paint | M | Nothing planned to date | Annual maintenance budget |
| External 4.11 | External doors treated and metal painted | M | Doors planned in maintenance programme | Annual maintenance budget |
| Repair of mortar in joints of steps | M | Planned maintenance programme | Annual maintenance budget | |
| Boundary walls & grounds 4.12 | Repairs to walls and capping * | D | Northern Boundary 2018 Eastern boundary 2019 | Landscape budget (allocate £5,000) |
| Trees: Programme for gradual re-placement of poor trees and lopping decayed branches | M | Routine maintenance | Landscape budget. (allocate £5,000) | |
| 4.13 Fire Officer's Report | Does not fall under legislation, but insurers recommend | M | Routine maintenance | V & W budget £2,000 p.a. |
Meeting the Needs of Section 2 - See the separate Architect's Design Statement prepared by Samson Designs Limited.
There are 42 Cathedrals in the Church of England; St German's is the newest, (even if one of the oldest diocese) becoming a cathedral in 1980. The Cathedral is aiming over the next five years to create the level of infrastructure that is part of a modern English Cathedral, the role of which is serve the whole Island (in the UK usually a County), the diocese and particularly the needs of the parish churches within it. Cathedrals can be described as 'resource churches' that help serve the mission of the diocese as a whole. Most Church of England cathedrals have evolved over centuries, almost of them being former monasteries, some still having their monastic outbuildings intact which are ideally suited for conversion to modern use e.g. Durham. Others re-created new ranges of buildings on the sites of former monastic buildings e.g. Southwark. Some of these have opted for a fairly traditional pattern of building and materials e.g. Blackburn, while others have unashamedly made a contemporary contrast e.g. Norwich. Typically a modern Cathedral has the following facilities linked to the Cathedral.
Those we have consulted about the Cathedral development
NOTE: Guidance by the Church Buildings Council 55 Functions of Council in relation to churches, etc. in use (1) It shall be the duty of the Council— (d) to promote, in consultation with such other persons and organisations as it thinks fit, by means of guidance or otherwise, standards of good practice in relation to the use, care, conservation, repair, planning, design and development of churches
Consultation Associated with Cathedral Project How will this proposal help the Cathedral Ministry?
The existing Cathedral structure is not capable of meeting all the needs associated with Cathedral life and so use of other structures including the Cathedral Hall and proposed Cloister is essential. The minimum core needs to be provided within the Cathedral are dealt with by this project. Overall the project will enable the Cathedral to be a resource Church for the diocese of Sodor and Man and the Manx Nation.
How will it enhance the liturgical space and services?
The Liturgy associated with a Cathedral aims to encompass the various strands of church tradition in the Diocese together with our ecumenical partners, be it a Solemn High Mass or a preached service of the Word. This might be accompanied, by organ, orchestra, band or folk group. The new proposals will give us a flexibility to meet the requirements of very different groups.
How will it help small group work and midweek meetings?
The Choir, doubles up as a chapel and enables us to meet the needs of the weekday congregation (a large number of whom are resident staff). The building will be heated throughout making this possible. The Children's area doubles up as a secondary space for worship and small meetings if the Nave is in use for other activities.
How will it help the mission of the church?
Currently the Cathedral is virtually uninhabitable on weekdays for half the year, because of heating, both in terms of cost and the current systems ability to heat the building. This means that some functions cease in the winter such as hospitality in the servery. This 'stop-go' approach winter to summer is not helpful to the development a consistent long-term ministry, for example, Credit Union Outlet and Foodbank (both of which the Cathedral were instrumental in developing).
What new groups of people will be drawn into the life of the church?
The new facilities will enable us to welcome people to use the premises all the year round: school groups, visitors, concerts, events etc. offering appropriate hospitality.
What new activities and events will be able to take place in the church? Banqueting with on-site catering Offering hospitality to cruise liners (lunch provision and guided tours of the Cathedral and gardens. How will it help your financial situation?
The more uses the building is put to means that:
Fixed costs e.g. restoration work can be supported by many more people
The heating will move from being an expensive 'variable cost' with a long lead in time to a cheaper 'fixed cost', which enables the Cathedral to be more responsive to users.
How is the proposal contributing to the need for environmental sustainability?
The Cathedral has an environmental and sustainability plan:
20EP X2020 produced in December 2017 (20 environmental projects by 2020: Four in each of five areas 2017-2020) How is it reducing the carbon footprint, contributing to the Church's commitment to reduce to 20% by 2050? The Cathedral aims to reduce its carbon footprint in a variety of ways (see 20EP X2020 December 2017). Successful action to date:
The aim is to have a green source of energy for the heating the Cathedral (air source heat pumps to work alongside the gas fired boilers) and while it is not expected that the carbon footprint will be less the building will be able to have many additional uses all the year round.
Recent changes which have taken place which have led to the need arising
| Bodies Consulted | Voluntary | Legal Requirement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consultation and Advice | Approval Required | Approval Gained | |
| Cathedral Congregation | ☑ | ||
| Public consultation across the Island e.g. Manx Life Magazine, Newspapers and neighbours by letter and meetings | ☑ | ||
| Local Cathedral Council | ☑ | ☑ | ☑ |
| Parochial Church Council of the parish of the West Coast | ☑ | ☑ | ☑ |
| Cathedral Quarter Trust (the funding body) | ☑ | ||
| Cathedral Chapter/Greater Chapter | ☑ | ||
| St German's Cathedral Music and Arts Foundation | ☑ | ||
| Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches | ☑ | ☑ | Awaiting planning approval |
| Committee established by the Cabinet office (Tynwald) to look at the Needs of the Cathedral | ☑ | ||
| Bishop's Leadership Team | ☑ | ||
| Bishop's Executive | ☑ | ☑ | ☑ |
| Planning Department (Registered Building and Planning) | ☑ | ☑ |
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