Sadly, the church at the Community of the Resurrection has fallen into a poor state of repair.  It is many years since major work was last carried out on it and it is no longer 'fit for purpose'.  There has been no heating in the church since the boiler failed last year.  We got through last winter with wholly inadequate temporary heating, which prevented the older brethren worshipping.  Whilst in summer the church's stonework provides a cool haven from the sun, by autumn it becomes bitterly cold.  Therefore, in autumn 2009 the church will close as a place of worship until the reordering is complete

The church receives many visitors and groups each year and has become a place of pilgrimage.  Yet the church's many tiers and steps make it inaccessible to many people with mobility issues; visitors and brethren alike.  To get from one end of the church to the other involves moving across 8 different levels and 14 steps.  This has led to the daily eucharist being moved from the Resurrection Chapel, which should be the heart of the Community, to the small altar at the west end of the church.  The more infirm members of the brethren even have to have their own separate eucharist elsewhere, which is not conducive to the collective life. 

The church's electrical wiring failed 2 years ago.  A short-term solution was to re-wire the church with a system temporarily tacked onto the walls.  That system is still there now: ugly and quite unsatisfactory.

The church also needs new lighting and sound systems.  The present lighting system is inadequate and inappropriate.  If we are to glorify God in our worship, we need to create an environment which is conducive to praising and honouring Him.  This also applies to the sound system, which is far from sufficient for such a large space.

All these elements of the refurbishment will enable us to carry out our mission.  By creating a church which is worthy of the Lord and the worship which we give Him, we are better able to serve Him as He has called us.