A South Cumbrian Methodist church has been handed a £20,000 boost.
Grange Methodist Church, in Grange-over-Sands, is a lifeline for the local community, with activities including a community café, keep fit classes, parent and baby group, theatre groups, a repair café and yoga.
But the Grade II-listed building is more than 100 years old and its facilities are outdated. The toilets are cold, remote and do not have hot water. People have to go through three doors and through awkward bends to get there – making it difficult for people with mobility issues and for younger families.
The kitchen has restricted access to it, making it hard for groups to use the space.
But the grant from the National Churches Trust will help to pay for new kitchen facilities and toilets as the church extends its building and makes it more accessible.
Grange Methodist Church has exciting plans to further their community support, including welcoming a charity for dementia sufferers and their carers.
They cannot use the building at present because the facilities, particularly the toilets, are not suitable for people who suffer from dementia.
Through this project four accessible rooms including two large meeting rooms will be created on the ground floor with an additional room, accessible by stairs only, on the first floor.
The Rev Jo Rand, minister at Grange Methodist Church, said: “We’re over the moon to be so close to our fundraising target with the support from National Churches Trust. We started out with a need to improve the accessibility of our building, but it was an opportunity to dream some dreams.
“We believe equality is important, but at the moment that’s not the message our building gives. This project means everyone will be able to come in through the same welcoming entrance, rather than having step-free access hidden away round the back by the bins, and the toilets will be easy to find, and have hot water for hand washing, and heating!
“The church hall has always been well used, but this project makes more of our building available for all sorts of uses through the week. Relocating the kitchen means that hospitality can be at the heart of what goes on at Grange Methodist Church, rather than only being available from the hall. The new kitchen will be much better laid out, making it safer and easier to work in.”
“We’re so excited to be able to look ahead to the warm welcome we’ll be able to offer to all sorts of community groups, rather than having to apologise for the state of our facilities.”
It was one of 43 churches across the UK to share £478,110-worth of funding from the trust.
