New Building: Week 3 - Still digging

Digging of the foundations is now nearly complete. The concrete will arrive early in week 4 to build the foundations, and then the bricks will arrive.

This is good news. Not only are we making good progress, but we are on schedule — we promised Somerville College that we'd have all the noisy work done before the students get back next term.

The window at the east end on the ground floor of the Parish centre has now been taken out, and the wall beneath it removed too. The same will happen to the window at the west end. This will make it easier to get building materials and equipment straight through to the building site. Once the new building is done, the west window will become the new bar. The east window will be replaced by french windows that will allow parties to spread outside in the summer.

New Building: Week 2 - Foundations

“Like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation...”

—1 Corinthians 9:10

New Building: Week 2 - Diggers!

The diggers have arrived...

New Building: Week 1

Bright and early on Monday morning this week the builders arrived to start work.

One of the first jobs was to build a wall — this was to test the colour of the bricks and mortar that the architect has chosen. The inspector from the council has approved it, so we can press on with the proper walls. Here is the wall being built:

The Pritchard Room has been cleared and a protective layer has been put down on the floor. They have taken out the old fireplace.

The scaffolding has gone up outside the building to remove the fireplace. This corner will become the new lift shaft that provides access to the new rooms and library upstairs.

Meanwhile, in fundraising news, the total raised so far for the Campaign is £2,093,414.22.

Blessing the building work

The builders will be arriving on Monday 12th March to begin work on the new accommodation block, Parish Centre and library.

There will be a short ceremony to bless the beginning of the work on Sunday 11th March, after the High Mass.

Thank you to all who have responded already to the need to raise more funds for the next stage. We have what we need to put the building up, but not to make it ready for use. We must raise a further £270,000 by the summer to move smoothly onto the next stage.

Breakfast with the Grand Master

Today we were very honoured to welcome His Most Eminent Highness Fra' Matthew Festing as our guest to breakfast.

Fra' Matthew is the Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta, and a patron of our Campaign. The Order is descended from the Knights Hospitaller, founded in Jerusalem in 1048 to help and protect pilgrims. Today, the Order provides medical and social care, as well as humanitarian aid around the world.

Information functions and Campaign total

Unfortunately Fr Nicholas has had to cancel the Information Function planned for this Saturday, 25th February as he has to be in Birmingham that afternoon.

However, there are still two more coming up next month: Friday 9th March at 8pm and Saturday 24th March at 11am. Please e-mail Fr Nicholas, campaign@oxfordoratory.org.uk if you would like to make a booking, or phone 01865 315 816.

Information functions are a chance for you to learn a bit more about our building and fundraising projects and ask any questions you may have, and all are very welcome.

As of today, the total raised so far is £2,073,319,98. That's almost £30,000 more in the last three weeks!

Meanwhile, the Parish Centre is almost completely empty, and just last week we had people in planning where to put the scaffolding. The builders are busy getting ready to move in any day now. We'll be sure to let you know when they do!