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Electrical Testing
The electrical circuits of the church and hall have been subjected to
their three-year inspection.
All circuits and portable equipment have passed the tests.
Members and users of the hall can be reassured that all necessary safety checks are attended to.
Renovation
Two years ago we saw the installation of new windows in the
church and hall. The outside of the church was completely re-decorated
to a very high standardand and the internal walls were re-painted.
The window frames are hardwood and double glazed. We have already
begun to feel the
benefit. The building heats up more quickly and there
is much less noise from the traffic on the main road immediately
outside.
The generosity of members and friends and a substantial grant from
the Derbyshire Environmental Trust has made all this possible and
we offer all concerned our sincere thanks.
This year extensive renovation
has been carried out in vestry and entrance hall areas. Secondary
double glazing has been applied
to the windows. A new double glazed oak door made by Andrew Lawton of
Grindleford has been hung and the entrance hall re-plastered and re-decorated.
We have also replaced the guttering around the entire building and provided
drainage along the wall at the side of the road to prevent water entering
the building.
In the chapel itself two pews have been removed and a carpeted area provided
for babies and toddlers during worship and for small group
meetings at other times.
< top > Furniture and
Furnishings
Geoff Darwent, who had been a member of the church at Bamford since his
chldhood and following in his father's footsteps had taught in the Sunday
School,
preached, played the organ and held office in the Peak Circuit as
well as in the local church, died four years ago. In his memory, his
widow Joan,
donated an oak communion table expertly made by Andrew Skelton. The
church has also received from Andrew Lawton a matching
chair paid for by donations that were made to the church in memory
of Geoff. We are pleased to remember Geoff in this way and the new furniture
seen below will serve the church for many years.
 
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Two years ago, Connie Swindells, an unswervingly faithful
member of the congregation died at the age of 98. At the time we mourned
her
passing and paid tribute
to her faith and her life of loyal witness. With money donated at Connie's
funeral we bought pew bibles which are now used Sunday by Sunday in
church.
On Saturday, 8th March, Connie's nieces presented a garden seat in her memory.
The picture shows a group of friends with Judith and Susan,
two of Connie's nieces on the seat
.....
Our latest addition is a superb banner given to the church
in memory of the late Mrs Evelyn Spink. The banner includes her
favourite flower and bird and centres on a theme of worship and praise.
< top > Going Green - a report
from the Church Council
In recent years, Bamford Methodist Church has tried to think creatively
about the care of its premises. Thanks to hard work by members over
the years the chapel and hall are safe, sound, and reasonably comfortable
places
for worship, and for local groups such as the Pre-School and Story Keepers
to use regularly. But there’s a difference between good housekeeping
which runs a property at lowest cost, and good stewardship which manages
that property in a morally responsible and creative way for the future.
In 2006 Bamford Methodists obtained a public grant to double-glaze three
quarters of all the windows, with a real improvement in warmth, sound
insulation and energy efficiency. After that, as our awareness of environmental
issues
grew, so we began to explore what more the church should do to reduce
its carbon emissions. During 2007 we carried out an informal green survey,
with advice from local experts Rick Watson and John de Carteret. As
a consequence,
the church adopted an initial ‘green agenda’ for change in
2008. The list included: fitting low-wattage light bulbs; new insulation
in the roof spaces; replacing the (still relatively new) central heating
boiler with a much more efficient condensing boiler; fitting modern secondary
glazing to the remaining windows; a new ‘smart’ electricity
meter; a new thermostat, when needed; and fitting radiator reflectors
in the church hall.
By October ’09 most of the big items on the list have been done,
and the Church has gone on to think of further possibilities. One pressing
issue was to think about the source of our electricity, and at the Autumn
Church Council we decided to buy the Church’s electricity on a green
tariff, from a 100% green energy provider, even if the cost of doing
so might mean that the bill could increase by anything up to 7.5 per
cent** on an annual bill of just over £400.
This is another step in a move away from automatically buying goods
at the cheapest price. Some years ago we became a Fairtrade church,
supporting fairer sustainable production on a global scale even if it costs
more.
The switch to green electricity† is in the same vein: given the threat
of global warming, this adds our Church’s weight to rapidly growing
pressure on energy providers to invest in low-carbon sources. If it’s
right to promote fair trade by paying a bit more for the tea and coffee
we use, it’s right to promote clean energy by paying a bit more for
the electricity that boils the water and lights the room.
We could stop there, but we shan’t. There are still things we can
do, and as technology progresses we shall need to think about further
options. We may be a small unit in the total energy market, but these green
decisions
are a clear signal of our stewardship values - both as consumers, and
as a church.
Andrea Spurling, Secretary, Bamford Methodist Church Council
** According to the price comparison web site http://green.energyhelpline.com
† Electricity produced by solar, wave, wind or hydro power.
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