Church renovation plan nets £3m Lottery grant (From The Bolton News)

Church renovation plan nets £3m Lottery grant

12:30pm Tuesday 29th September 2009 in

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CAMPAIGNERS can finally toast the future of All Souls Church after Lottery bosses approved a £3 million grant to turn it into a community centre.

The 19th century Halliwell church has been the target of vandals since closing its doors in 1986.

And its future looked bleak until residents joined forces with the Churches Conservation Trust to save it five years ago.

Together, the campaigners developed ambitious designs to keep the outside of the building in tact while developing the interior into a futuristic community centre.

Now, plans to replace the church's pews with space-age glass “pods” are to become a reality after the Heritage Lottery Fund agreed to donate the £3.3 million needed to fund the construction.

All Souls committee secretary Inayat Omarji said: “We’re so pleased. Five years’ work has now become a reality. We can now start to build what will be an amazing community centre for everyone to enjoy.”

The church was awarded £265,000 last year to develop the project, with the remaining money set to one side. After inspecting the church’s designs and business plan, lottery chiefs have now officially given the scheme the green light.

The two glass pods, once installed, will house meeting spaces, consultation rooms, conference spaces, a library, exhibition space, classrooms and a gym.

The innovative pod structures will be the first of their kind in the UK, with high-level walkways giving visitors a unique perspective on All Souls’ architecture and stained glass windows.

Work on the scheme is due to start early next year, with the centre opening to the public in summer 2011.

TV personality Loyd Grossman, who is the chairman of the Churches Conservation Trust, said: “Historic churches such as All Souls are treasured features of our towns and countryside. These magnificent buildings are monuments to our history and society, but left unused they are at risk.

“This funding will enable us to save All Souls for future generations, to keep alive its history and spirit through contemporary community use.”