Bristol DAC Awards 2019
Church building projects across the Diocese have been honoured by the Diocesan Advisory Committee at a special awards ceremony.
Nine parishes were recognised at the third annual DAC Awards for the completion of a project to an exceptional standard of workmanship, or where a project has been key to that parish’s growth and mission.
The drinks reception was held at St Mary Hullavington, one of this year's award-winning churches.
Rt Reverend Viv Faull, Bishop of Bristol, praised the work of the people involved in the projects. Speaking at the event, she told the winning churches: "I hope very much that you will pass on the message of what you have done and how you have done it to others, so that they can see what the transformation of your building has done for your community.
"There will be something about what you have all achieved that will give others the confidence to do likewise."
Certificates were awarded to members of the nine churches by Ven Christopher Bryan, Archdeacon of Malmesbury, and Ven Michael Johnson, Acting Archdeacon of Bristol.
The DAC forms a key part of the process by which parishes develop proposals for their buildings and obtain consent to carry out work. It works closely with parishes in caring for their buildings and in adapting them to support their mission and growth. In doing so it encounters many people working with incredible commitment and passion, often with significant obstacles to be overcome.
The DAC sees many applications from parishes through the year, and this event was a good opportunity to give proper recognition to some of those projects, with representatives of the parishes having the chance to share their experiences.
Nominations for awards can be made to Emma Bakewell, DAC Secretary.
You can see pictures of the winners on our Facebook page.
Read about the winners of this year's DAC Awards:
The church is surrounded by a boundary wall with Bath stone coping which has recently been replaced. With the help of fundraising, a grant from Allchurches Trust and an interest free loan the work was carried out and 198m of boundary wall repaired. Also two gates that had become dangerous were repaired.
As a part of the Building4Life initiative the church building went through an extensive redevelopment and re-ordering in the last few years. An adaptable central space with a level stone floor, new chairs, underfloor heating, lighting and audio-visual system was introduced, new underfloor heating, lighting and audio-visual systems put in place. The church now has an enlarged kitchen and modern toilets as well as bigger office space. The changes have transformed the Church into a place where community is built, creativity can flourish and Christian spirituality is being nurtured.
Within the last few years the church went through an extensive re-ordering which has transformed the building into a light, welcoming and very flexible open space. This included raising the floor for universal access and under floor heating, together with the installation of new lighting and an extended audiovisual system. The improvements included introduction of new chairs, purpose built refreshment area and the chapel was transformed into a separate quiet reflective space. Finally, a new extension around North-West corner was built to provide 2 toilets, 2 meeting rooms, a vestry and storage.
This £550k project delivered a much needed bright, modern community space where people can meet and worship not only during Sunday services but every day of the week.
The Barnabas Building - complete replacement of ageing halls designed around three independent but interconnecting spaces, based on analysis of future church and community uses, providing a much larger area for meeting and worship. Striking wooden frame provides a lofty and warm ambience. Design makes maximum use of sunlight for power and light, and the garden space has been completely revitalised with new play equipment and wooded area. The new kitchen is designed to cater equally well for Sunday mornings as for community events and functions. The new halls now attract a much broader range of community use – Lantern Pre-school, Toddlers and the Chat-a-Box holiday clubs, as well as hosting meetings, parties, receptions and other celebrations. The halls are particularly attractive for music, drama and dance.
Internal redevelopment and re-ordering including the introduction of a kitchen, accessible WC, glazed screens to the undercroft and full height part glazed partitions to the gallery. The church now has new display screens, fl exible staging and renewed mechanical and electrical services including a new AV installation.
In recent years, St Andrew’s have been engaged in an intensive and comprehensive set of projects to preserve the church’s fabric and its significant heritage. These projects have enabled and created a disabled WC, kitchenette for services/events, as well as a new vestry. In turn a new side chapel was created in one of the most ancient areas of the church, thereby exposing special memorials, and the magnificent stained-glass window and newly restored medieval carved screen.
An £82k re-ordering project planned for over 3 years then implemented in 2019. The addition of an accessible toilet and a second toilet, along with the provision of a new tea and coffee station and the altering of 4 pews to make them portable, has markedly enhanced the ability of the church to achieve its mission.
During a recent DAC site visit the DAC members were struck by the immense care and effort put in to keeping both interior and exterior of the church in immaculate condition.
During recent years St Andrew’s Church has gone through a major redevelopment of their buildings and facilities. The replacement of the church roof and the addition of a new entrance foyer was completed in 2018. A new crèche, kitchen and café area have also been created. In addition, having freed up the old church hall the space is being refurbished and will be opening as a Social Justice Hub, working with the NW Bristol Foodbank, to provide a range of services and facilities for those in need.