Photos
Bell Tower repair project 2011
Between May and November 2011 urgent repairs have been carried to the eroded brickwork and failed flat roofs of the Bell Tower, to stop rain getting inside. Some of us went up the scaffolding on 15 July to see the eroded bricks being replaced.
During this time the Memorial Bells have being restored and the belfry staircase made safe for visitors. Lights have been added to illuminate some of the names on the bells, and lots of work is being done to find out more about the 200 men whose names are on the bells and create a website and exhibition about them.
The bells have been lowered to the belfry floor, one beam at a time, removed from the beam, then cleaned and re-enameled. The finished bells have been fitted back to the beam with new insulators and bolts, then raised back into place. The clavier and clappers were restored at Gillett & Johnston's workshops - where the bells were made - and the whole mechanism has been re-assembled with new wires.
An Open Day to celebrate the completion of the work, including the rededication of the bells as a war memorial, will take place on Saturday 19 November - all welcome.
Ride and Stride 2011
Again this September we took part in the annual "Ride and Stride", a sponsored event organised in our area by the Friends of Essex Churches Trust. This year was a little different: a team of eight cyclists led by Hilary joined a bike pilgrimage from Barking to Waltham Abbey via St Katherine's Limehouse organised by people from Chelmsford diocese. And for the first time, an ecumenical group of 'striders' set off from Plaistow on a circuit taking in churches in Forest Gate and Stratford. The aim is to raise money for repairs to historic church buildings and also increse awareness and appreciation of them, and it's always an interesting day. Why not join in next year?
West Tower repairs
This album contains photos of the repairs to the West Tower in 2009.
It also has some photos taken of the dedication of the tower when the work was complete. On the last Sunday in October the congregation moved outside after the Sunday service to sing a hymn and say a prayer of thanks for the successful completion of the work.
Ride and Stride 2010
On 11th September 2010 Hilary, Roger, Daniel, Maxine, Shola, Philippa and Alex took part in the sponsored Ride and Stride organised by the Friends of Essex Churches Trust to raise money for our Bell tower Appeal. We cycled well over 30 miles, in a circuit from Shenfiled to Ingatestone, stopping off at some pretty and some very old churches.
Sponsored Spooky Sleepover
Six young people (and two young adults looking after them) spent the night of 13 November 2010 sleeping in the belfry, under the bells, to raise money for repairing the tower and restoring the bells.
The Memorial Bells
Some of the excellent photos taken by Tim Bateman and Matthew Crisp.
The ten bells in the east tower are cast with the names of 172 men, 169 of them from the local area, who died serving in the First World War. One bell is dedicated to The Unknown Warrior and one to Prince Maurice of Battenberg, the only member of the royal family to be killed serving in the First World War.
Hike for Haiti
A small team from Memorial Community Church walked the pilgramage route from Stratford in East London to Canterbury Cathedral over the bank holiday weekend in August 2010, to raise money for the reconstruction work in Haiti.
Joint Service Feb 21st 2010
Pictures taken by Duncan during our recent united service with friends from Christchurch, Latimer, PCF and MCC.
Plaistow snow December 2009
Pictures of MCC and the locale snapped during a recent snowstorm by Jude Acott.
