 Our church building is located in a prime location in our town. Amidst the activity of business and commerce it embodies the presence of God in our midst. Its architectural splendour speaks of God’s grace and majesty.
Over the centuries, the interior of Saint Mary’s has been altered to meet both changing appreciations of worship and different ways of engaging with the community the church seeks to serve.
By this latest development of our church building, and acknowledging our rich heritage, we are seeking to both speak of light and beauty, simplicity and space, and to safeguard Saint Mary’s long-term future by ensuring it is fit for its purposes of worship and mission, both now and far into the future.
We believe that this major re-ordering has many potential public benefits for the life of our town. The completion of the stonework restoration has already contributed to people feeling that our town is starting to change for the better.
A re-ordered church can build on this and also enhance civic pride. It can complement other plans for the regeneration of Bridgwater’s town centre.
It can provide a magnificent setting and an excellent venue for activities from the public, voluntary and business sectors. It can serve as a visible reminder of how spiritual and religious values can contribute to the social and political concerns of our town and district.
For the liturgical and mission needs of the twenty-first century Saint Mary’s needs to be a building that enables people to engage with the faith and to encounter God. It needs to help us to continue to develop as a community of the Christian faith, where all are of equal value and all may feel at home. Its layout should enable us to share in the celebration of God’s saving work in Jesus, and to inspire us to go out to share Christ’s love for all in God’s world.
A very thorough series of consultations with church members and the wider community has been undertaken. English Heritage, the Victorian Society, The Council for the Care of Churches and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings are all involved in the process.
At the back of the church is an interesting exhibition showing how the interior of the church has changed over the centuries. Architectural plans and drawings illustrate the proposed changes. |
