Sunday 10th March, Corby
With the blessing of His Grace Bishop Dositej of Britain and Scandinavia, the renovations of the Church of St Elijah commenced in October 2016.
The project was split into three phases.
Phase one involved removing and replacing the water-damaged joists then covering the roof with a fibreglass flat roofing system which has a 25 year guarantee. The first phase was completed in December 2016.
Once the roof was watertight, phase two commenced with the removing and repairing twelve large frescoes, restoring them to their original conditions.
Other major work included both cupolas being completely restored as one was found to be leaking during a heavy downpour as well as laying new flooring in the altar with major plastering and electric works carried out.
During the process of renovation, expertise was sought from specialist firms. In addition, a dozen parishioners wholeheartedly contributed to the works with their skills and knowledge.
During the extensive renovations, Divine Liturgy and other services had to be held at the adjoining church hall – which was not ideal for the functioning of the parish.
Navigating the renovation through a serious of unexpected issues was project manager Radovan Vučković from Corby. An original budget of £35,000 was envisaged, however major drainage and resurfacing of the carpark and four new icons in the altar which had not been anticipated, pushed the overall spend somewhat higher.
The substantial problems of raising funds was taken on by parish priest Proto Radmilo Stokić.
With God’s help and the donations from the faithful, the second phase of works was completed by the end of 2017 and Bishop Dositej officiated at the blessing of the renovations on St Sava’s Day on 27th January 2018.
The third phase of the project which involved major drainage works was followed by resurfacing the carpark.
This issue arose unexpectedly but was both urgent and expensive to address and amounted to some £40,000 at a time when the construction fund had been completely depleted.
After several discussions with the faithful, parishioner Ilija Radomilović from Northampton took on the role of arranging his contacts within the industry to completely repair and resurface the Church car park. By the end of the project, fencing was erected to at the exterior boundaries. Without his dedication, these crucial and major works could not have begun, let alone successfully completed.
Also undertaken throughout 2018:
Four new frescoes at the entrance of the Church were donated by the families of Saša Tovilović and Goran Sabadi from Corby (3) and by Ilija Stojsavljević (1) from Letchworth. The iconographer was Nemanja Marunić from Belgrade.
The family of Predrag Subić from Corby donated a new carpet which now covers the staircase and gallery which was the finishing touch for the works within the temple itself.
A final blessing of the completed works and a thanksgiving luncheon celebration which followed took place on Sunday 10th March 2019. With the blessing of Bishop Dositej, all donors were invited to partake without charge – whether they had contributed to the initial construction or during any phase of renovations.
Divine Liturgy was served by Protopresbyter-Stavraphores Fr. Milun Kostić from London, Fr. Nikola Kotur from Bedford and parish priest Fr Radmilo Stokić. Proto Milun conducted the sermon.
The choral responses were chanted by Olga Čimbai and Predrag Trkulja under the direction of Protinica Seka Stokić. The clergy were assisted at the altar by subdeacon Aleksandar Čimbai and son.
The service concluded with the clergy blessing the four frescoes in the presence of the three donors.
The Kolo Srpskih Sestara of Corby prepared a thanksgiving luncheon for all donors of Church.
A programme of cultural events followed. The pupils of the town’s Serbian School (with their teacher Mirjana Karan) performed recitals while Krajišnici sang several traditional poetic songs from Knin.
Proto Radmilo opened the ceremonial banquet with words of welcome for the VIPs, clergy and parishioners who had gathered. Project manager Radovan Vučković spoke in more detail about the about the works undertaken during the two-and-a-half years project and thanked those involved.
After the address, parish board member Stanislav Smiljanić presented a slideshow on a big screen because “a picture is worth a thousand words”.
Prota Radmilo awarded Gramatas and diptychus to the major benefactors and helpers during the project; Radomir Đurđević from Kettering, Goran Sabadi and Predrag Subić from Corby, as well as Ilija Stojsavljević from Letchworth. A special Gramatas with an elegant Serbian coat of arms was awarded to Ilija Radomilović from Northampton for his major contributions as well as to Radovan Vučković for managing the reconstruction of the Church and property.
At the conclusion of the 30 month project the reconstruction of the Church of the Holy Prophet St. Elijah in Corby has been an absolute success with a total value of works (including voluntary work and donated materials) estimated at around £100,000. The necessary funds were raised by the parishioners who are once more thanked for the love they have shown towards their Serbian Orthodox Church and the parish of St Andrew the Apostle.
The construction fund will continue to operate for minor maintenance / improvement works required in the future.
The names of all the donors have been inscribed in a specially made plaque at the entrance of the Church to record both financial and other contributions to the project.
The parish board of St Andrew the Apostle along with parish priest Proto Radmilo and the Construction Committee headed by the project manager Radovan Vučković, once again extend their warmest gratitude to all those who in any way helped in the renovation of the Church of the Holy Prophet Elijah as well as all those involved in the thanksgiving blessing, since:
“Whoever gives to the Church lends to God; and God remains indebted to no one”