On 2 November 2009 W. W. Browns moved on site to begin the 13 month redevelopment of the Main House at Launde Abbey against all the odds. This was made possible by the amazing generosity of so many people who gave money, time and effort towards the Save Launde Campaign. Launde, and in particular the Warden, Tim Blewett, would very much like to take this opportunity to thank you for your amazing support.
By the beginning of September 2009 nearly £800,000 had been given allowing the Trustees to go to Leicester Diocesan Synod to ask if they would underwrite the scheme which will cost £2.6million in total. Since September a further £120,000 has poured in bringing the total to £913,845 and making the target of £1million for the public appeal achievable by the end of 2009.
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| A picture, taken at the end of November, showing the former Dairy Bedrooms that are to become the site of the Kitchen. |
The year began with a debate at the General Synod of the Church of England. The briefing paper had been written by the Warden with the backing of the Association for Promoting Retreats and the motion had come from the Deanery of Framland in which Launde is set. It had the backing of both Leicester and Peterborough Dioceses which had passed the same resolution. It was to lead to a debate, for the first time in many years, on the future of Anglican Dicoesan Retreat Houses and the place of retreat and prayer in the life of the C of E. The debate came in the wake of Derby Diocese announcing the closure of Morley Retreat House and the Community of the Resurrection announcing the closure of Hemmingford Grey leaving Launde as the only Retreat House of any size in the East Midlands. It was to gain wide coverage in the Church press and has helped to raise the profile of retreats in general.
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| The Warden receiving the Bronze Award for Tourism Experience at the East Midlands Tourism Awards |
The Save Launde Abbey Campaign was launched just after Easter 2009 with the backing of Archbishop Rowan Williams and many others. By July it had already reached over £500,000. The money was largely given by users of Launde who recognised the importance of Launde both to individual peoples’ spiritual journeys and within the life of the Church in general as a powerhouse of prayer, mission, outreach and spirituality.
Launde has gained an immense amount of press coverage featuring on BBC TV East Midlands and Central ITV News, BBC Radio 4 and regional radio stations. The Times and The Telegraph have also carried articles concerning Launde and there have been numerous articles in the local regional newspapers and the Church press.
Launde now has its own Hermitage — an en-suite stand-alone building with kitchenette allowing retreatants to either self cater or use the Abbey’s dining room. This was created by the Oxford and Cambridge being moved and refurbished in its new position near the Walled Garden. It has already proved to be a great hit with those who want to enter further into silence. This work was enabled by the Heritage Lottery Fund, local charities and individual giving.
As part of the work to the Oxford and Cambridge Hermitage, camping facilities have also been created consisting of a kitchenette, eating area, shower and toilet. This is in response to Launde receiving a growing number of young people and school groups wanting to camp. It will also provide extra flexibility to other groups who want to bring more than Launde can sleep in bedrooms.
Thanks to money from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Leicestershire County Council Environmental SHIRE Grants along with other charitable giving the Ha-Ha has also been restored and trees planted in to the Park. Further money was received from DEFRA to replace the park fencing. This took two weeks to do with over a mile of wrought iron fencing being replaced with matching fencing. The old fencing is thought to have been in place for about 150 years — it is hoped that the new fencing will last as long!
Launde is used by people of faith, no faith and those on a journey. It offers a bursary scheme to those who cannot afford the tariff. It is open to all.
The Abbey welcomes many individuals and groups. The range of groups goes from a Consultation for Spiritual Advisers from across the Church of England hosted by the Association for Promoting Retreats which the Warden, Tim Blewett, chairs to local primary schools bringing their pupils (Year 4 7 and 8 year olds) to Launde on retreat.
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The Report that commends Launde’s work with schools
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This initiative with schools has been praised as an example
of good practice by a recent C of E Report (November 2009).
Work has begun on site with external paths being created allowing access across the lawns from the Stables to the Main House and then on to the Chapel. This is important as in January the contractors start to move in to the Main House as they begin work on the bedrooms and some of the ground floor.
The internal walls and roof to the Dairy bedrooms have been removed as have the internal and some of the external walls of the Brew House. This is to be the first part of the work and is destined to become the new kitchen and dining rooms which will be opened in March allowing the contractors to move into the rest of the Main House at that stage.
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| Brew House — with no external wall looking towards the chapel |
The rest of the work will be completed at the end of November 2010 allowing the furniture to be put back in during December. The Main House will then open again in January 2011.
Through out the redevelopment programme Launde will be able to stay open thanks to the work completed on the Stables making all of the bedrooms en-suite in 2007 — 2008. With the Hermitage Launde will have 20 en-suite bedrooms during 2010.
If you would still like to contribute to the Save Launde Abbey Campaign then you can do so up to the end of December 2009. Please contact the Abbey if you wish to do so. After the end of December 2009 any donations will go towards general fundraising.