Sponsored by
New-look church toasts 175th birthday
A DILAPIDATED church is on the brink of reopening as a community and faith centre after a £750,000 revamp.
The final phase of work is now getting underway as part of the big overhaul of Hunslet Baptist Church on Low Road in Leeds.
Over the last four years the building has undergone a complete refurbishment and renovation, converting the dilapidated structure into a vibrant new community centre and church in time to celebrate the building’s 175th anniversary.
The basement has been made structurally sound and completely remodelled to provide two meeting spaces, a kitchen and toilets.
The upper levels of the building are now having a new floor fitted with underfloor heating, partitions installed to increase the different uses of the site and a servery being created to provide beverages and simple food preparation.
These upper floors will be available for community bookings as well as for worship.
Construction work on the site is expected to be complete in the next couple of months and the building will hopefully be available for community use by June this year.
Anyone who is interested in using the new community facilities can contact Gill Knowles by email: hbc@hunslet-baptist.org.uk.
The Church is scheduling a grand opening in the autumn, celebrating the re-launch of the community building and also the 175th anniversary since it was built.
Funding for the work came from a number of sources, including the Garfield Weston Foundation, Church Urban Fund, Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust, Hesco Bastion Fund, Green Leeds/Biffaward, Grantscape, and The Veolia Environmental Trust, which gave £87,900.
These last three grants were given through the Landfill Communities Fund.
The church’s small congregation have also raised over £25,000 through events such as a charity fundraising concert, an abseiling event, gift days and open days.
Gill Knowles, project co-ordinator on behalf of the church itself, said the project had been a big success.
“We faced closure or demolition like so many old buildings, especially churches, but made the bold decision to step out in faith and breathe new life into our locality.
“We have far exceeded our expectations of what we hoped to achieve.”
McNabb Laurie, operations manager of The Veolia Environmental Trust, said: “We are so impressed with the determination to get this project underway and overjoyed that the building will soon be available for use.
“The Veolia Environmental Trust is proud to support projects such as this that will to serve the community for years to come.”
andrew.robinson1@ypn.co.uk
Email to a friend
Print this page- Leeds lose Ward to Palace: Is there anyone they can afford now?
- Sheffield Wednesday leaving it late to hijack Leeds United over Ward
- As Snodgrass dithers over Leeds, Warnock throws a lifeline
- Ball is in Leeds United’s court over contract - Snodgrass
- Police turning blind eye to Asian voter fraud, says MP
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.