This first update of the Autumn will give you an introduction to the huge amount of work that the Building Development Team has been involved in since our last update. George McIlvain and his team – Bryan, Douglas, Kenny, and Tom - have been negotiating agreements with the key professionals who are essential for the successful delivery of the building development.

The Professional Team, listed below, is now in place. They are an experienced group of companies and individuals who are committed to ensuring that the work goes smoothly and according to plan.

Information is also included from Bobby Baird, the Project Treasurer, about the financial progress of the development.

The building development is now gaining momentum, and we will be issuing these updates regularly in the future. There is a great deal of information to report back to the whole congregation, but we want to make sure that your specific questions are addressed. Please contact any one of the Communications Team with your ideas for future updates.

Bryan Duncan, Kate Airlie, Susan Constable, Eileen Cullen

"Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain" Psalm 127:1

Introducing the Building Development Professional Team

Project Manager - Locus CM - led by Scott Ewing one of their senior Directors. Locus have great experience of delivering sensitive projects on time and within budget. They are currently working on the conversion of a listed church in the west end with similar lower ground floor aspirations.

Architect - CRGP - led by Roger Fleming and John Nicholson. This firm has extensive church experience and have been connected with our project for almost 2 years now, through early concepts to the now required detailed design. Both of our Architects are Elders at Martin Allen's church in Chryston.

Quantity Surveyors / Cost Consultants - Summerfield Robb Clark - led by Craig McNeill, one of their Associate Partners. Again SRC have been involved from inception of this project and have been responsible for building up the cost plan which matches the design. No easy task! But again SRC have excellent experience in dealing with jobs of this nature.

Structural Engineer - McLay Collier - led by Peter MacMillan, one of their Senior Partners. Peter and his team are responsible for designing the procurement and methodology to ensure we can deliver the lower ground floor, amongst other building structure related issues. They are confident of their design solutions and have the joyous task of dealing with more authorities and official bodies on our behalf i.e. Strathclyde Passenger Transport in relation to the Underground!

Mechanical and Electrical Engineers - Hulley and Kirkwood - led by Iain McNeill, again one of their Senior Partners. With responsibility for designing and advising us on the full range of issues from air movement to heating and lighting, H & K are specialists in their field with fantastic experience. They have dealt with many old and famous buildings in Glasgow (plus brand new) and understand all our needs.

Planning Supervisor - Bill Shaw - an essential part of our legal compliance from inception to completion. He has to ensure that our Professional Team meet all the statutory compliance issues and more, satisfy all the authorities that we are doing things in an orderly risk-free manner. Important stuff!

Construction Lawyer – McLay, Murray & Spens - Mark Macauley is a Partner in MM&S and has been expertly advising us on all pre-start issues and tying up the contracts for all of the above Professional Team. He has brought tremendous clarity to the project and value to our entire endeavour. Once all the documents are signed he will be taking a back seat for a while until we start to put together the tender packages to go out to the contractor market. At that stage he will again become a vital advisor to us to protect and represent our best interests.

We are also being advised by VAT consultants – Carstairs and Liddell VAT Consultancy Ltd. The two partners, Dugald Carstairs and Jim Liddell, have together 55 years of hands on VAT experience. They have worked at the sharp end with HM Customs and Excise, with professional companies and now as an independent practice so they know this business. We have to treat this subject seriously as there is in excess of £200,000 involved at full rate. There are however elements free of VAT and we need to be sure that we are maximising these savings.

Beyond all this, there will be some future specialists appointed to help us, such as Acoustic Engineers and Lighting Consultants, but for the moment this is our full roster.

As ever, we would covet your prayers for everyone – which is why we have mentioned them by name. Please do remember them often, as the next six months will be an incredibly busy preparation and planning period.

Update on Finance

The estimated cost for the building project is £2.2 million, which also includes a tithe to support church building projects in other countries. The congregation has pledged £1,874,566 to date, which is 83% of our target. In order to raise such a large sum we were asked to consider giving sacrificially, over and above any other funds we give to the church or any other Christian work. As the total indicates, many of our members have pledged to do just that.

If you are a new member, you may not be aware of our vision for using the wonderful location that God has given us. The church website — www.thetron.org — has drawings, plans and further information which will give you a taste of the commitment this congregation is making for the future of the gospel in Glasgow city-centre.

If any new members, or members who have not yet pledged, would like to consider contributing to the Development Fund or wish an information pack about the Project, please contact Bobby Baird the Project Treasurer (Tel. 0141 632 6950 or email robert@rbaird.fsnet.co.uk).

As at 31st July, £670,000 has been received in respect of pledges. This is 36% of the total amount pledged and we are most grateful that pledges are being honoured.