Last night at our deacons' meeting we were discussing the future options regarding our building, and I asked if they thought the members in general had actually grasped the financial aspects of any of this. The consensus was that, no, they hadn't, and a couple of examples were cited...
One woman apparently asserted that if we'd all put 20p a week in a jar since the building closed (around 3 years ago) we'd by now have enough to buy a new one. Hmm, 40 people x 150 weeks x 20p.... I'll take three of those churches please!
Another person apparently mumbles that we spend £6 a month on sandwiches to give away at our 'thing in a pub' on the same basis. So, since may when we began that's a whole £36 - clearly enough for a decent sized vestry, I guess.
I realise most of these people paid no more than a couple of thousand for their houses, but they have children and grandchildren in the housing market, and surely they see the news once in a blue moon. I am a bit taken back at the total lack of a clue about costs, but if anyone can find me a nice church building in good working order for a couple of grand, please let me know!
As we sold our stored ancient Steinway piano for £1k this week, we are clearly well on the way to a nice new church...
In the meantime, one of the deacons is going to try to find out some indicative costs to inject a note of realism next time such things are said!
Comments
When we were working towards a new church hall the architect told us to keep the figure of £1000 per sq metre in mind whenever someone was wanting to add a bit on here and there. From more recent building projects in the area I understand that the guide price is £1400 per sq metre - I know they won't understand a sq metre, but I found it quite effective to mark it out for them or know the measurements of the room we were meeting in and constantly remind people of the cost.
the ironic thing is that if we had had real confidence in our business plan and the amount of use the community were going to want to use our space, we would have built something twice the size!!! - but you don't need to mention that.
They are obviously of the same mindset of some of my members who seem to think they can have a building and a manse and a full time minister for, in one case, 25p a week!