Look what was dropped in to a Sussex church

SUSSEX churchgoers watched with baited breath on October 15 as a new Sunday School building was dropped in.
The cabin is lifted over the East Beach Evangelical Church, in Selsey. Picture by Phil HardingThe cabin is lifted over the East Beach Evangelical Church, in Selsey. Picture by Phil Harding
The cabin is lifted over the East Beach Evangelical Church, in Selsey. Picture by Phil Harding

The East Beach Evangelical Church, in Marisfield Place, Selsey, was in need of a portable cabin outside its building to help it expand the main congregational area inside.

“We didn’t find out until last week so all this happened quite quickly,” said pastor Phil Harding.

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One of the congregation Alistair Ghinn headed to Chichester to find a suitable cabin they could use for the Sunday School.

The cabin arrives at the East Beach Evangelical Church, in Selsey. Picture by Phil HardingThe cabin arrives at the East Beach Evangelical Church, in Selsey. Picture by Phil Harding
The cabin arrives at the East Beach Evangelical Church, in Selsey. Picture by Phil Harding

He had found a suitable cabin with Chichester firm JC Portable Site Accommodation and while it would normally cost £5,000-£10,000, he had been offered one in need of cosmetic repairs for around £1,000.

However the church was in for a surprise once the business owner found out what they wanted the cabin for.

“The guy who owned it said are you it for a Sunday school? I will give it to you,” said Phil.

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“Suddenly we went from ‘it might be a good idea’ to ‘let’s do it’ to ‘now we need to get it ready for today.”

The cabin is lowered into place at the East Beach Evangelical Church, in Selsey. Picture by Phil HardingThe cabin is lowered into place at the East Beach Evangelical Church, in Selsey. Picture by Phil Harding
The cabin is lowered into place at the East Beach Evangelical Church, in Selsey. Picture by Phil Harding

To save costs, a 60-ton crane already in the area on another job was used to lower the 48-feet-long structure into place.

The church will now refurbish the building and hopes it will be up and running before Christmas.

“I’m a builder so I can do a lot of the work. It’s just a great story,” said Alistair.

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“What’s great here is that we’ve all contributed to getting it ready. Three of us were here Monday preparing the base and getting it level. A project like this brings about a lot of camaraderie and team support.”

The cabin is lifted over the East Beach Evangelical Church, in Selsey. Picture by Phil HardingThe cabin is lifted over the East Beach Evangelical Church, in Selsey. Picture by Phil Harding
The cabin is lifted over the East Beach Evangelical Church, in Selsey. Picture by Phil Harding

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The crane used to lift the cabin over the East Beach Evangelical Church, in Selsey. Picture by Phil HardingThe crane used to lift the cabin over the East Beach Evangelical Church, in Selsey. Picture by Phil Harding
The crane used to lift the cabin over the East Beach Evangelical Church, in Selsey. Picture by Phil Harding

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