A £12 million fundraising appeal to create a new community centre at a St Lawrence church is due to be launched at a community event tomorrow.
Revised plans to build a ‘Hope Centre’ at the St Matthew’s Church were approved earlier this year.
The church congregation will officially launch a £12m fundraising appeal on Sunday 21 September with a community event from 12:30 to 14:30, featuring stalls, activities, food vans and entertainment.
Originally built in 1840 and widely known as the “Glass Church”, St Matthew’s was extensively renovated in 1934 and is renowned for its interior, featuring glasswork by French designer René Lalique.
The plans, originally submitted in March 2023 before being withdrawn and resubmitted on a smaller scale, will see the demolition of the existing church hall, built in 1954 and an adjacent cottage and vicarage, replacing these buildings with the community centre.
The two-storey structure will include a café, large auditorium for events and activities, meeting rooms, and facilities for young people at the Grade 1-listed building.
Reverend Phil Warren, vicar at St Matthew’s for the past 21 years, said they were aiming to provide “a vessel of hope”, where islanders can find “belonging, support, and a sense of community”.
“This is a community thing,” he said. “Our strapline for the vision is: ‘In the community, for the community, serving the community’.
“At the heart of it is a vision to create a modern, inclusive, sustainable centre that serves the needs of our parish and island for generations to come.”
DONATE…
Donations can be made via bank transfer, standing order, or through a QR code linked to the Hope Centre website, which is due to go live this weekend.
The church office can also provide digital and printed brochures with full details.
