Wellington Square United Church
- Feb 5
- Mexico Missions Chili Lunch and Silent Auction
- Feb 7
- The Power Of a Whisper
- Feb 8
- Bible 101
- Feb 10
- Downtown Community Dinner
- Feb 11
- GraceLand Leadership Development Event
View full calendar
Future Plans Update April 2009
Renovating and Upgrading for Wellington Square’s Future
After a 9 month period of quiet preparations, the building renewal project is becoming visible again. Blueprints are finished and going to contractors for bids, and next month we hope to have a recommendation for the congregation for next steps as we move forward. There is lots to consider –about the project itself, finances, and future needs of this church. So let’s review:
What’s being done?
Sanctuary re-configured to better serve the variety of worship styles being presented. Music leaders (choirs, bands) will be more visible and able to present toward the west transept, thereby increasing the ‘functional’ seating in the church by 75-90 persons.
Addition of a large new room that can serve as two classrooms for GraceLand, and also be used for large study groups, receptions and meetings in mid-week.
New GraceLand reception area, nursery and toddler area. The youth will now be able to move off the stage and have a designated Youth Room. The stage will be re-configured to be used for partial storage, and also available for presentations.
Several washrooms will be enlarged and updated.
Widening of the welcoming and gathering area for fellowship and better flow of people.
New, slightly enlarged Music Room; some offices re-configured and moved.
Geo Thermal heating and cooling installed in the entire west wing.
Parking lot and both driveways re-paved. Addition of 18 parking spaces along the east driveway is also being considered.
Why are we doing it? What are the benefits?
We want to improve the welcome we extend to new people, the ministry activities we carry out together, and the service we offer to the community as they come to our building. We also want to be eco-friendly. Much has changed in the 45 years since this church began. These renovations reflect the new realities and meet the needs of today.
What more in the future?
Every home needs regular maintenance. A church is no different. This project will do much to renew plumbing, and to replace and expand heating and cooling in the west wing. It will also replace the areas of the roof which have had recent leaks. If costs and donations allowed, it might be good to renew the entire roof at this time, although an inspection last year did not demand immediate replacement. Although it was not included in the costs of the proposal we also need to replace an aging audio-video system ($120k). Future years could bring routine replacements of heating and electrical systems as part of ongoing maintenance that every building needs.
Is it viable today?
Our project is estimated at $1.8 million, plus financing costs. We have $2.02 million pledged. Will the economy affect us? In the last meeting of the building committee, with all of us asking ourselves whether the project is still viable, we were told by the architect and a construction project manager “Money is cheap these days, costs are low; do it now if you can.” So in some ways, it is apparently the best time in a generation for a construction project. Still, let us proceed carefully, and be open to consider tweaking or ‘custom designing’ what we do according to needs and budget.
The Board
The Staff
A Christian community with deeper roots, branching out and bearing greater fruit
2121 Caroline St, Burlington, ON L7R 1L7
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