The Story of the Upper Room
(Click here for details of a fundraising Gig for the Youth Upper Room Project.)
This is the story of the refurbishment of the Upper room at St Mark’s, which started in December 2009. Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin.
Once upon a time, long, long ago, there was a Church room, built in 1879 next to the church. It had a very high ceiling and very inefficient and expensive-to-run overhead electric heating.
Then along came Brian Ruff and Stephen Nason, and in 1979 the room was transformed into TWO rooms by adding a floor half way up (or perhaps half way down). So now there were TWO spaces, each of which could be separated into three smaller spaces, and the blown air heating worked – most of the time.
But by 2009 the Upper room (the name given to the room at the top) was looking sad and neglected, and so the young people (the ones who used it most), spurred on by their leader Claire Farley, decided to see what could be done to make it better.
Plans were drawn up and grants were applied for (with help from Steve Hood) and before they knew where they were there was almost enough money to transform the room! Hoorah! This was very good news, and so the work began.
Steel beams still in place
The most difficult part was the removal of the big, heavy beams which had held up the partitions dividing the room. They were made of steel and, even if they could be taken down whole, they wouldn’t fit through the door or go down the stairs! Hmmm, what to do? Well, the answer was to cut the beams in half – no, not with a hacksaw or a magic wand but with special cutting equipment.
Beam almost cut through
Beams gone! (Well the steel ones, anyway...)
Then work started on the floor (to help make the room more soundproof for those meeting downstairs) and on the heating (to put in a modern boiler and radiators).
Place where the old boiler used to be...
...and the new boiler up and working.
Old cupboards were taken out and bright, shiny new ones put in and painted.
Bright shiny new cupboards.
And – best of all – a new kitchen began to take shape at one end of the room!
Kitchen framed
Worktop going on
Nearly finished
The lighting was improved, too. The old fluorescent tubes might have been all the rage in 1979 (they would have seemed a miracle in 1879) but they simply wouldn’t do for the 21st century.
Lighting 1979 style...
So spotlighting was installed and everyone cheered.
...and 2010 style.
Then all of a sudden the carpet was laid and furniture brought in, until it was transformed! Look at it now!
Cosy seating area here...
...and a comfy sofa there.
Great kitchen area...
...with all modern appliances...
...and a handy bar.
Room for recreation, such as Pool...
...and table tennis...
...and even a desk for Claire.
And, of course, they all lived happily ever after.
The end