You may remember this building project.
I have written before about our new community church building at St Paul’s Penketh. Local people often ask what’s going on. The building looks ready from the outside, but noone seems to be using it. At Easter it looked people were using it, as this picture suggests, but that could have misled you.
Are we using the building now?
Here’s the full story, part of which appeared in the Warrington Guardian on the 12th of April.
Members and friends of St Pauls Penketh who met outside the new community church base for a short service on Easter Sunday were excited to worship God in the open air on this pleasant Spring morning, although all are looking forward to using the new building, when the interior is finished. In the meantime, services continue in the Oaks Centre on Stocks Lane.
Kieran Layfield, of the church’s building group says, “In the last few months a lot of progress has been made. The builders, Harry Fairclough Ltd, have been dealing with some outstanding items, and various local contractors and volunteers have completed the electrical installations to the smaller rooms, the external lighting, security and fire alarms, as well as plastering and painting internal walls.”
Concerning the next stage, he adds, “We’re about to be working on the ceilings and lighting in the corridors and foyer, and on installing the toilets. The garden will also be looking very different soon.”
The large metal cross on the front wall was a gift from a family with connections to St Pauls. Many people were pleased it was in place in time for Easter.
Is the building only for churchgoers?
Team Vicar, Sarah Peppiatt, says, “We will welcome ideas from community groups for how the building can best meet their needs when it is finished. Churches have always served many functions, as part of their purpose in serving God in the World.”
What about the money?
The church treasurer, Denis Bamber, comments, “Although many people have given generously, we still a need a further £90,000 if this church is to be completed to the standard appropriate to the twenty first century.”
Donations can be made via this link https://www.give.net/stpaulspenketh.
More information is available at http://www.stpaulspenketh.org.uk/index.php/pages/new_building/category/new_building/