by Emmanuel Joseph
Construction on a $3 million multi-purpose complex that will house the Anglican Diocesan Secretariat and Youth Centre, is expected to start shortly on the site of the existing Mandeville House at Henry’s Lane, Collymore Rock, St. Michael.
The ages-old Mandeville House, which is still being used as limited office space for the church, will be demolished and replaced by the state-of-the-art facility, to be done in three phases.
Anglican Youth Chaplin, Reverend John Rogers, who is spearheading the project, told Barbados TODAY the entire operational machinery of the Anglican Church would be accommodated from the new buildings.
“The first phase will comprise the secretariat and Youth Department, offices for the Bishop, Archdeacon and Diocesan Secretary and so on, facilities for organisations such as the Mothers’ Union and Men’s Fellowship. The machinery of the church will be housed there, a situation which does not exist at Mandeville House,” Rogers disclosed.
“On the first floor will be an auditorium for shows and meetings, with break-out rooms. There will also be ramps and lifts for the disabled,” he added.
“When someone wants to see the Bishop they should be able to. No one should be left out; so the disabled must be accommodated,” the priest noted.
The cleric revealed too, that the first phase would also see the construction of a Diocesan Archives “containing every piece of history from the establishment of the Anglican Diocese to the present.”
In the second phase, Rogers stated, would be multi-media rooms.
“This would house facilities for meetings for other groups, other than Anglicans, for rental. There would also a basement with office suits for persons to lease,” announced the minister.
He explained that consideration was being given to building the third phase for an income-generating venture, such as a cafeteria.
“We are also looking at small weddings to incorporate in the Chapel which would be there,” pointed out the church leader.
“We have already made a public appeal through our recent Synod and persons have responded and pledged (money) towards the project. From this month, we are going into the parishes (churches). We want this to be an Anglican effort, we want our members to take ownership of this project. The entire project should cost over $3 million,” Rogers told this newspaper, adding that the estimated membership of the Anglican Church was about 70,000.
He said the architectural plans were due to come back from the Town and Country Planning Development Office this month.
An appeal titled Capture the Vision, Answer the Call has gone out for “generous” donations, including the establishment of The Diocesan Secretariat & Youth Centre Building Account at Republic Bank. The account number is 028026872001, and donations can also be made by cheques to the Diocesan Secretariat & Youth Centre Building account. emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb