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!

Over £2m raised! More restoration in Church!

The current Campaign total is £2,045,749.47 which makes us almost half-way to our total of £5 million. As you may have read, this means we can now start work on the new building.

Meanwhile, plans for the restoration of the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes are underway.


...and while that's going on, the designers are busy coming up with something for the ceiling.


Read all about it in our latest newsletter: