Building Concept

St. Mary's Re-ordering Committee

The re-ordering Committee of the PCC for St. Mary's was convened in late 2004.  It has actively sought the views of both the Totnes Team congregations at a Parish meeting and  the local community at an Open discussion. The ideas generated at these meetings contributed toward producing the Statement of Significance and the Statement of Need, both prerequisites for St. Mary's to formulate action for re-ordering.  These Statements have been  approved by the PCC and informally by DAC. The Re-ordering Committee are now in the process of preparing a strategic plan for the church and its environs to be put in due course to the PCC and its chosen architect.

We have been greatly helped by the DAC who have designated contact members to advise churches on re-ordering procedures.  Advisors from the DAC for both floor replacement and under floor heating were both encouraging and positive. The Committee lifted (and replaced) sections of wooden flooring in the church to see if there were any obstacles to a new floor heating etc. There is space to install a new floor and heating without disturbing any archaeology.

Dr. Joseph Elders, Archaeology Officer of the Council for the Care of Churches (CCC) selected St. Mary's as a national pilot for the care and management of the country's more important churches. 
He has produced a comprehensive document which points the way to the future use and guardianship of St. Mary's and its surrounds.

 
This document has been published as a model and will put Totnes at the forefront of church conservation in a spiritual and social context.

In December 2009 the PCC  appointed JBKS architects as projects architects.