A TOWN centre church has revealed plans to transform its dated building into a modern community facility as part of a £600,000 project.
Trinity Methodist Church in Whitby Road, Ellesmere Port, has given the Pioneer an insight into their vision for the future of the site, which includes a healthy food café, a refurbished crèche and arts facilities.
The Rev Christine Jones says the scheme would alter the existing windows to create a glass front, and the land outside the entrance would be landscaped to become an “oasis on the high street”.
As part of the plan the welcome area for the Live at Home Scheme, who are contributing £60,000, would be upgraded and the church crèche, which is the only drop-in facility in the town, would be transformed to include an outside playing area.
The credit union is currently based at the site and would have a new office overlooking Whitby Road, while Cheshire West’s Street Pastors will have their main base at the church.
The project will not affect Trinity’s Sunday service, which will continue as normal in a reconfigured worship area.
So far £200,000 has been secured from the Methodist Church in support of the redevelopment plan and a self-financing company, Footsteps to the Future, has been set up by the church.
An event for businesses and organisations to find out more about the project and offer their support will take place at the church from 11am on Friday, January 23. Borough MP Andrew Miller will be the guest speaker.
The Rev Jones said: “Community building activities would be encouraged to flourish at the heart of Ellesmere Port.
“Older people could share their cookery skills with younger mums in the refurbished kitchen, young people and families could make music together and there would be space for all to relax in the café or sit outside and watch the world go by.”
Trinity Methodist Church has spent £50,000 over the last three years, which has all been raised by members, to see if their vision could become a reality.
The Rev Jones added: “We have 74 members, of which 71 are pensioners, and they have raised that amount. It is incredible.
“Ellesmere Port and Neston Association of Voluntary and Community Organisations has been working with us and their support is key. We wouldn’t be able to do it without them.”
Church committee member Henry Germon said: “This is an exciting vision for the future, which all the members are in support of.”
