KHPC Fabric Team

It often seems to me that people, even those who know the building well, often seem to stand around---looking upwards. Here we see Malcolm Mitchell, from Page\Park Architects, doing just that. Friday was a busy day for him as he escorted the metals specialist from Historic Scotland up on to the Fleche in the morning and by evening he was presenting some very interesting pictures together with a talk on the repair project. The talk was well attended and much appreciated, and I do think Malcolm also appreciated having an interested audience ready to ask questions and discuss various aspects of the project. I took this photo when we were checking the progress of the painters and plasterers earlier in the day. After all the Sanctuary is due to be handed back next week, and the Organ Tuner is booked for Monday 7th.December. We do expect to hold morning worship in the Sanctuary on the 13th.December 2009

Craig hard at work ------Again!

Worry not, the two workers in the blue dungarees are having their lunch after spending the morning working on the leadwork up on the Fleche. The painter had already had his lunch. An immense change is apparent today, all the scaffold at the front has been removed, and Craig is very busy clearing up the debris. It was quite amazing to stand in the middle and see all the fresh paintwork clearly.

The internal Scaffold--as planned- started to come down today, and what a day it's been. Howling wind and driving rain --- I'm pretty sure the weather forecast wasn't for this today. However the sanctuary is starting to reveal some of the promise to come. Roll on to Advent!

Please spare a thought for the our workmen who have to be outside in such awful weather. At this time we also think of those elsewhere who have suffered loss and upheaval because of the weather. We also think of all the emergency services who 'just carry on' whatever. I've just had a thought! If this weather continues to delay work then we might end up decorating the Fleche with fairy lights! At the weekend a few people climbed the internal scaffold to experience a different view, and some view it was ---- A completely different perspective and the ability to get up close and personal with some very grubby cherubs! The plan is for most of the internal scaffold to be dismantled this week. So it was definitely last-chance weekend

Although it is only part way through, much has happened in November. Finally the Fleche is being fixed. A great deal of Scaffold has been erected around it. Inspections have been made and our Car park has had more traffic in it than anybody could ever have envisaged. By the way, the scaffold at Oran Mor is so that the columns within the arches of the bell tower can be replaced with stone. --- See; I knew I'd find out! A well attended service of remembrance was held over there on the 11th., and the memorial bells were rung. It was most kind and thoughtful of Oran Mor to remember the heritage of the building in this way. Our thoughts have been with the workmen these last few days, as they have had some of the most atrocious weather conditions to deal with. High winds are forecast again for this weekend, but at least the roof is now stable, and the heating is on throughout as the plaster needs to dry before painting. The internal scaffold is starting to be cleared away and the task of...

Is that a Light? Is that the Light? --- at the end of the Tunnel? --- or the train coming toward us? Whatever one's viewpoint, there is no denying that yet again there are Blue Skies and many people working very hard above our heads. It hardly seems possible that this week is even busier than last. The car park even fuller of cars and vans. Of course it all makes sense, now that we are on the final countdown to 'Contract Completion'. Then we can start to celebrate Christmas. This year; back in the Sanctuary! But before then there is still an incredible amount of work to do. Re-decoration; Reinstatement of pews, carpets and other floor coverings; Reinstatement of Ceilings and plaster: Re-hanging of the Belmont Cross and other things and general cleaning up. Will we see much for the money spent? Apart from a clean, and refreshed Chancel area, probably the biggest return on the investment is surely within us. The knowledge that the roof over our heads is secure, that despite...

Mr Miller and Son outside Cologne Cathedral.

As it is Remembrance Sunday tomorrow, I thought I would share with you a close-up photo of the main memorial in the Cathedral church of St Michael and St Gudula in Brussels. It is very simple and in many ways quite understated, ------- yet very moving. The Marble relief and the names of many Princes, Counts and Barons carved into polished black granite tell of the loss of the little country of Belgium during the First World War. "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori"

The Clue, of course, is who is the Guest Photographer? Those in the know may know! More snazzy pictures of scaffold and contractors will be posted later!

Hmm! Similar artistic viewpoint, but you are seeing someone else's scaffold. Herr Muellers to be precise! Just goes to show that, after building ones' Cathedral over the last 700 years or so, one still needs to get the ubiquitous Scaffolders on site. I don't think any great Church or Cathedral these days is without its resident Contractors. All I can say is that ours have had to work in some pretty horrible conditions. It would have to rain the week they started to build our external access to the highest points of the roof. Therefore there aren't that many photos of them at work, as it was much too wet for the camera when the most interesting things were happening. Let's just be thankful that they were skilled in their work and accomplished it satisfactorily. and that they didn't have to climb quite as high as in these photos.

How the weathervane was brought down!

This little 'chanticleer' has been sitting on top of the fleche for a very long time----- so it's quite understandable that he should be on the receiving end of a little TLC. I do think he has a very 'french' appearance about him and certainly when he came down to earth this morning he still had a definite air of 'joie de vivre', Especially as he was being carried down the scaffold! Not that easy a task for those concerned ----He was a very long way up. Certainly, over the years he will have had a different view from his perch.