A Mobile Church to Seat 150 People
Page 45
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AN unusual mobile outfit which should prove adaptable for a wide variety of purposes has heen produced by J. H. Jennings and Son, Ltd., Sandbdch, Cheshire. It is a combined church and bible exhibition unit, and is built on a semi-trailer, with Commer tractor.
When "closed" for travelling, the unit is 32 ft. long and 7 ft. wide inside. Erected, the interior is 25 ft. wide and 15 ft. high (at the centre). The overall height is 20 ft.
To convert the outfit for use, five 25-ft.-long I beams are passed through holes in the body skirt and along wooden bearers fitted beneath the floor, Screw jacks at each end of the beams are used for support. These beams are stored in a full-length locker beneath the body when travelling.
The roof is then raised approximately 6 ft. by means of screw gear fitted at each end of the body, and the body sides are lawered on to the beams to form the floor. This is done by wire rope pulleys and winches, a set of which is fitted at each end.
Detachable interlocking side sections, which are carried inside the vehicle when not in use, are placed in position round the edges of the platforms, and the whole is enclosed by waterproof sheeting which is permanently fixed at the top to the roof. The sides are supported by outriggers which extend from a large-diameter tube running the length of the vehicle on both sides.
A flight of steps with detachable hand rails is supplied.
Fitted just inside the entrance is a small vestibule and above this is a filmprojection room, A small stage is provided at the front on which a detachable pulpit desk can be placed. Behind this there is a film screen. Display cases telling of the "Wonders of the Bible" are fixed along the interior sides.
Perspex panels in the roof facilitate natural lighting, but electric lights are also provided. A generator for lighting and projection can be incorporated.
Seating can be provided for up to 150 persons, special chairs being stowed in side lockers when the outfit is mobile.
The possibilities of the unit as a mobile theatre are obvious and it could be adapted for that purpose with little modification to the basic design.