Dear Friends,

Two things have happened to me since I agreed to become the Chair of the Capital Campaign Committee. One is that I came to understand that our Parish has no alternative but to take on the challenging and complex task of raising $2,000,000 for the restoration and re-purposing of the church buildings. If St James is to remain a strong creative presence in this community, the work required is not optional. Restoration work has been clearly identified in a professional assessment and significant upgrades to repurpose the Parish Hall have become an obvious priority. Fortunately the work can be phased over a number of years. Secondly I have become keenly aware of the enormous commitment among parishioners to meeting the challenge. My colleagues on the Campaign Committee and the various Sub-Committees are full of energy and ideas. Parishioners have sought me out to volunteer their help and support. I should not have been surprised. St James is more than a building. St James provides us, as it provided our predecessors, a place of worship, of celebration and of service to all our community. A successful Campaign will mean that we can pass on to the next generation the gift that we received. Our intent is to approach each of you individually to seek your help, so please welcome us when we knock. We are inspired by St. Matthew:

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matthew 7:7-12

As the Capital Campaign has taken shape, it has become perfectly clear that this is no ordinary “let's fix the roof” campaign. This is the kind of exciting work that will have a real impact on the whole Stratford community for years to come. The intent of this work is to restore and re-purpose for the next generation.

RESTORE

The first goal is to restore the parts of the church buildings that need attention. The first step in this goal was the major structural work that took place last year. Since then, a professional assessment of the buildings has identified several additional areas that need work over the next five years. This includes the Church nave roof, the Bell Tower masonry, the Chapel roof and walls, the stained glass windows, and the foundations and floor joists. This is only a partial list but it gives you an idea of the size and scope of the task before us.

RE-PURPOSE

The second goal is to re-purpose parts of the church that need significant upgrades. This will certainly include upgrades to the kitchen, washrooms and the parish hall. It will also include addressing issues of accessibility. Achieving this second goal will mean that our space is easily usable by both the parish and the wider community for a wide range of gatherings and events. guiding all our discussions have been the principles of beauty, longevity, flexibility and accessibility.

The Wardens have spent many hours reviewing what is required and how to schedule it over a number of years.

The end result of this work will be beautiful, historic spaces for the people of Stratford to use and appreciate. Whether it be worship, education, community outreach, social gatherings, or music and the arts, St James will be ready to serve the needs of the next generation in this city.