BREAD
History of BREAD
The previous scheme
The proposal:
Bingham has grown naturally, a mixture of the traditional and the modern and therein lies its character. Our scheme is also a mixture of the old and the new. The Chapel, the Schoolroom, and the old Parlour, built at different times, are of a size that we would wish to build today. Our forefathers planned well. The new Porch is an excellent meeting place and the old Chapel, which seats 300 has undoubted atmosphere which helps worship and creates a sense of fellowship. All this we want to keep though we know that heating, wiring and décor needs attention and the Schoolroom needs a new floor. So there is a great deal of work to be done on these buildings, but it is work that, under supervision, we could for the most part do ourselves with voluntary labour. We believe this DIY aspect of the scheme will be fully supported by members and friends and is a healthy aspect of the total scheme - as good for our spiritual life as for our muscles.
The main part of the scheme - the expensive part - concerns the rest of the property. Providentially, the Church now stands in the most desirable situation in the new shopping precinct, and directly opposite the library and health centre. We have been presented with a fine opportunity at the heart of Bingham's life. However, there is a problem for we back into the new precinct. In a sense we are the wrong way round though in another sense it is precisely this that gives us an opening, for here in the precinct is the chance to renew our premises in line with all the other buildings. We have been placed in a most fortunate situation and yet have had to stretch our initiative to the full to see how to make the most of it.
This is what we propose: the rather unattractive collection of little buildings, rooms and waste land that face the precinct should be removed and in their place a suite of new rooms should be erected. This will at once present a much more attractive and worthy face to the world and we are delighted with the admirable way in which the Architects, Cecil Howitt and Partners, have interpreted our intentions. It is important for the Church that it take its rightful place in this modern setting and the scheme is a vast improvement on the present aspect. However, the main consideration is the provision of facilities that at present we lack. We know that our buildings are suffering from stress - they are being taken apart by use, not vandalism. We believe it is the youth provision in the town, in which we play a major role, that ensures little vandalism in Bingham.
Between 700 and 1000 pairs of feet cross the threshold every week and we cannot cope. The kitchen is appalling and toilet provision worse. There is no storage space to speak of and all the rooms are cluttered in a way that inhibits their use, which causes perpetual problems - leaders fight a valiant but losing battle. Existing organisations have to compete for the use of rooms and we sadly have to say no to others in the community whom we would like to accommodate. For this reason, and because there is other work we would like to do, we need more rooms.
We therefore propose to surround the north end of the schoolroom, where there is a subsidence problem, with storage space, which will contain a display window facing the library. This will at once clear the schoolroom of equipment and also strengthen the building. In the space created by demolition will go a new and larger kitchen, new toilet facilities, a new upper room, a new vestry/office, and a new and comfortable parlour for committees and meetings. An entrance and lobby opening into the precinct will mean that the main access to the rooms and halls will be from that side. In addition, facing into the precinct, space is allocated for a charity shop - OXFAM we hope.
The other frontage, Union Street, where the main entrance to the Chapel remains, will also have some changes. Schoolroom and Porch will be linked and the general design improved. We sacrifice no land on this side, garden and playground remaining, both being excellent features. Nearby parking saves us land and us yet another bonus springing from this central site.
To sum up; we shall end up with buildings that look a great deal better and which are far more use to Church and Town. We will be meeting the needs of the Church, of the young, and the community at large - a service we wish to continue to provide. We shall also have buildings that meet the growth situation of the present and immediate future. We believe that in this scheme we have responded to the need and the opportunity that faces the Methodist Church in Bingham.