Church’s �1.5m project clears first hurdle

Church’s �1.5m project clears first hurdle

A NAILSEA church’s plans to set up a community cafe, youth club and training centre are a step closer to reality.

Holy Trinity Church has now bought the old rectory from the Diocese of Bath and Wells, ready to convert the 19th century building into a base for staff offices, a youth club, meeting and training rooms and low-cost accommodation on the first floor.

The church’s offices are currently based in the Trinity Centre, next to the church, but once the offices are moved to the old rectory the church also hopes to extend and refurbish the Trinity Centre to provide more space for community groups and social events.

The whole project will cost �1.5million and work is expected to start next year if the plans are approved.

Rev Jolyon Trickey said the aim of the Trinity Project is to ‘develop and preserve the whole site in order to reach others with the love of Christ, to serve the local community and to resource the wider church beyond Nailsea.’

He added: “We hope the improvements we are proposing will ensure that the church is at the centre of the local community which includes the Tithe Barn, the schools, Grove Sports Centre, shops, pub, and the church hall.”

The church, in Church Lane, held a gift day at the end of January this year and raised around half of the total needed for the building.

Plans for the Trinity Centre are currently being reviewed by English Heritage and the diocesan authorities and it is hoped that a planning application will be submitted early next year.

Rev Trickey said: “Its refurbishment was first considered several years ago, but purchase of the rectory has provided the opportunity for more imaginative uses and redesign of the Trinity Centre. It’s an exciting, but challenging time for us all”

The rectory purchase will be celebrated at all services, including Trendlewood Church, on November 7, and with a staking out ceremony at 12noon at Holy Trinity.