Update by Patrick Roberts, Bursar
Cranleigh embarked on the project to refurbish the Chapel in 2008, beginning with the removal of the white wash that had been painted onto the walls in the 1960s. This was an invasive process of sand blasting that took nine months to complete but the end result, restoring the brickwork to its original splendour, has been admired universally.
In September 2009 we started work on the construction of a gallery on which the new Mander organ was to be installed. The gallery and organ were completed in time for the Chapel to be reopened in September 2010, ending the first phase of redevelopment.
The second phase of restoration is now well underway and includes renewing the floor as well as replacing the existing pews, which are not original, with new high quality pews. The new pews will be configured in the collegiate arrangement as before, for routine services, complete with platforms for the rear pews. But there will also be the ability to move the seating to face either the altar or the transept, on a flat floor. The firm selected to provide the new pews is Luke Hughes, the leading maker of church furniture in the UK and internationally. They have provided new pews, seats and furniture for, amongst others: Westminster Abbey, Canterbury Cathedral, St George’s Chapel Windsor, The Tower of London, Cambridge colleges, Oxford colleges, Yale and Charterhouse School. Their website is at http://www.lukehughes.co.uk/ and a sample of their work is here:
It is also felt that the Chapel is cold (something that the older amongst us view as being rather quaint but I am told that younger generations feel the cold) and the Minton tiles are showing signs of wear. It was therefore felt that the installation of under floor heating and a new high quality limestone floor would improve the use and feel of the Chapel. A photograph above of St George’s Church, Bloomsbury shows a similar floor to good effect.
We are currently working with the historic buildings officer and Waverley Planning Authority to alter the original planning consent slightly but we intend to start work at the end of March and will have the Chapel reopen again in September in time for the start of the celebrations to mark the School’s first 150 years.
Patrick Roberts
3rd March 2015