PROJECT Gateway blog - DECEMBER 2025
CAFE & BOOKSHOP REOPEN
Lots has happened since our last blog post…A wonderful response to our Gift Day in October, we’re back in the Cafe and Bookshop and Christmas services will be in church!
Find out more below…
Finance update
We had a great response to our recent Gift Day in October 2025 raising £200k! Huge thanks to all those who have given to the project now and in the past. We literally couldn’t do it without you!
The project finances now look like this:
Projected Total Cost - c£5.6m (of which we will be able to reclaim about c£300k of VAT back).
Total Raised - c£4.9m, including £900k in grants, £4m in gifts from the congregation.
Mortgage to cover any shortfall has been secured - all future gifts will reduce the amount we borrow.
What’s been happening?
Take a look at the photos below to see how all these changes are looking…
A brand new and enlarged café kitchen has been installed.
New full length café windows have opened the space up, flooding it with light and letting passers-by see what’s on offer.
The bookshop has had a complete makeover and is now Sanctuary Books & Gifts. It’s simple lines and soft colours give a calm and warm welcome to all that is on offer in the church.
We have new folding doors to separate the Nave and the café space, and to create a new little ‘cosy’ between the café and the bookshop. These are great for flexible use of the space by different groups.
Smart new toilet facilities installed, including a disabled access toilet and a family changing toilet.
Progress has been made on the renovations in the Nave. New efficient lighting has been installed, plus audio visual updates are being made. Whilst not completely finished, we will be able to have our Christmas services in the Nave.
The plan for the brick façade on the Youth & Community Centre has been granted approval by the Diocese and we hope to hear from Woking Borough Council before Christmas.
The floor in the old organ space and vestry has been lowered in readiness for joining with the extension to form the Youth and Community Centre.
What’s happening next in the building?
Finishing off the work to the Nave.
Completing the renovation of the 1st & 2nd floors.
Foundations for the extension to form the Youth and Community Centre.
Latest programme update…
Here’s the latest forecast of completion dates for different sections of the building:
Christmas 2025 - Nave open for Christmas services
March 2026 - 1st & 2nd floors complete
Summer 2026 - Youth & Community Centre complete
We are really grateful to Ash who are working really hard to minimise delays, despite a number of challenges, whilst still delivering high quality work.
Where is church happening now?
You can find all the information you need on where to find Offsite Church by clicking this link and on our FAQs page.
Find out more
If you want more information about the project, or to find out how you can support it financially, take a look at our Gateway pages on ChristChurch’s website, or you can chat to any of the members of the team: Adrian Beavis (Vicar), Steve Roberts (Project Leader), Walter Coxon (Finance), Mike Pearce (Technical), Peter Wichmann (CCW building knowledge and expertise), Rachael Purvis (Project Coordinator). If you’d like to email us with a specific query you can do so at this email address: gateway@ccwoking.org.