Church community is lauded for centre effort (From Warrington Guardian)

Church community is lauded for centre effort

BIDDULPH Methodist Church is celebrating as a lottery grant enables work to start on their £400,000 community centre.

A Big Lottery Fund grant of nearly £123,000 was the 'last piece of the jigsaw' that has taken determined churchgoers two years, hard work and sacrifice to complete.

The Rev Dr Phillip Lockett paid tribute to his congregation, which has raised over £100,000 towards the project with fundraising events and individual donations.

He said: "It's an enormous achievement for the people, who have bent over backwards and shown commitment and dedication.

"The grants we have received are fantastic, but also church pensioners have saved their last pennies to donate and that's what makes all the difference."

A wide variety of community and volunteer groups will use the new community development and resource centre, which planners hope to complete within nine months, once building work begins in October.

It will house three distinct areas - one large room, accommodating 140 people, for use by keep fit groups and meetings; an education room with computers, and a multi-purpose counselling suite.

An old church building is currently used by Biddulph Youth Orchestra, U3A, mums and toddlers and self defence groups, which are all looking forward to developing their work in the new centre.

The church sees the new building as a major contribution to the regeneration of Biddulph town.

Other grants of £60,000 from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and £50,000 from the Staffordshire Environmental Fund have helped the church realise their dream.

And in remembrance of the former Victoria Colliery and miners the church has agreed to name the new building the Victoria Centre.