1949: Proposal plus drawing of new church from CW Glover & Partners; surprise that Evening Standard is carrying news of the project (leak?); initial cost £10,000; Bishop warns to proceed carefully and consider room for expansion of flock; initial comparison with church at Sopsley, Luton.
1950: Construction method novel & causing concern; Ministry of Works limit on churches is £5,000; Architects to review costs & extendability; Bishop says no decision made yet; Fr Gaffney unhappy with evasion & delays; Canon Hunting suggests budget up to £7,500, and other limits on the project.
1951: Fr Gaffney suggests leaving out tower, sanctuary & sacristy to come within budget; approval to proceed (but watch the architects ("the very devil")); notice given to tenant to vacate the plot; various exchanges about detail of the design; MoW refuse licence to build; Bishop nervous about cost and asking if a contract has been signed and by whom - need for permission from Rome before agreeing to proceed; Fr Gaffney responds that the amount is right for the work and he is monitoring closely; CW Glover advise using architects has a cost and better £400 is advanced to avoid "Carey Street".
1952: Bishop embarrassed and provides a history as he sees it - Fr Gaffney to stay within budget and not pay for schemes (whether realised or not ) costing 10 to 15 thousand pounds; Fr Gaffney lets off steam to Canon Hunting - "..if you can get another sucker to come here.."; MoW approve licence for £7,500 project to build the church; Timber & steel licences in place; Building cost estimates range from £10,000 to £11,560, but architect may be able to prune £1,000; Bishop sticking to original budget, problems getting a loan - other churches being built for similar amount e.g. Wymondham at £6,000; design modifications to meet budget e.g. to height, type of facing bricks; foundation stone wording agreed, Bishop to bless it on 15 August 1952; Vapoulles Ltd and Alberti designs for font - Alberti get the contract; internal layout (seating, lighting, flooring) and fitting out discussed.
1953: windows, lighting, flooring, organ (secondhand?); Consulting Engineer enjoyed the weekend in March and the Passion Play; 9 May, Bishop of Menerva sends congratulations on the opening of the new church and recalls local preacher being impressed by the distance he walked to get to church in Thorney; final account for £8,200 dated 25 June 1953.
