Piles of Progress

Words by Nigel Dickson


Since the last report, there has literally been piles of progress made at Raglan Road, because that is the job that is now well and truly underway: pile-driving.

For all us lay-folk, that means: driving square concrete poles 12 metres into the ground by means of an enormous mechanical hammer. The space between those concrete piles will then be excavated and filled with more concrete – to provide the base for our new building.

Once that base is in, the concrete will be left for two weeks to set fully, which coincides neatly with the break that the constructors will be taking over the Christmas period, between December 21st and January 10th. So, if you happen to be passing by during that time, don’t be surprised if there is little activity on site. Naturally, we will want our Church to be built on firm foundations – both literally and metaphorically – and, as the concrete is setting, that solid base is settling into place.

Once January arrives, the metal frame for the building – currently being manufactured off-site –will begin to be constructed on top of that concrete base.

Pile-driving to secure our building’s firm foundation has actually put one or two of our neighbours’ foundations to the test! We received a couple of complaints about shock waves being felt through their floorboards and vibrations causing kitchen crockery to rattle and shake. Minds were put at rest by a few reassuring words from construction manager, David Leigh, however, and no permanent damage was done. When Mr Leigh asked the neighbour if he should come and witness the effect on the household’s crockery - he was told that “he didn’t need to go to that trouble.”

Sound progress has also been assisted by the unseasonably mild, dry weather we have been enjoying. Even the high winds of the last weekend in November had subsided by Monday morning, so construction could continue unhindered. God is good.

The Church's one foundation

is Jesus Christ her Lord;

she is his new creation,

by water and the word:

from heaven he came and sought her

to be his holy bride;

with his own blood he bought her,

and for her life he died.

Mid toil and tribulation,

and tumult of her war

she waits the consummation

of peace for evermore;

till with the vision glorious

her longing eyes are blessed,

and the great Church victorious

shall be the Church at rest.

From the hymn by Samuel John Stone, 1864.

Please continue to pray that circumstances remain favourable, and that the manufacturing of the frame is completed satisfactorily and to spec.