Renovation Scheme

The opening of our renovated multi-purpose building, The Meeting Place, took place on 20th October 2012.

Before

After

Photos from the opening

The Grand Opening of "The Meeting Place"
The weekend's events were as follows...

Cutting the Ribbon - 10am Saturday 20th October
followed by free refreshments and an opportunity for everyone to look round the new facilities.
Service of Dedication - 4pm Saturday 20th October
led by Rev Richard Teal, chair of Cumbria Methodist District.
Sunday Worship - 11am Sunday 21st October
the first worship service in the new building, led by the Egremont local preachers.
Waymark (Youth praise band) - 7.30pm Sunday 21st October
a service of lively praise and worship

Background to the scheme

In 2009, Egremont Methodist Church began planning for a major renovation scheme. The Church has occupied its current premises since 1876, and has played an important role in community life since that time. This role has evolved over the years with the needs of the community, and the time had come when our buildings were no longer meeting their potential in supporting our aim of serving the people of Egremont and the surrounding area. After much consultation, it was decided that the best way to use our resources in continuing support of the community was to convert the premises into a multi-purpose community facility.

Progress Photos

Stripping out

Progress

Aim of the Scheme

To create at Egremont Methodist Church an accessible, safe, dry, warm, comfortable and welcoming environment, available for a wide range of community users and activities.

The scheme has seen the existing church building converted into two new multi-purpose spaces; a large area at street level and a smaller room upstairs. The scheme included:-

New zonal heating system
Pews removed
Lowered ceiling
Levelled balcony
New stairs to balcony
Upstairs meeting/activity room
New kitchen
New prayer room
Accessible toilet in entrance
Further toilet facilities
Store rooms
Platform lift to Upper Room

Scheme Benefits

Overall, the scheme is:-

Giving added comfort and better facilities to all current users
Offering a more attractive, better equipped option to new users
Providing a new lease of life to a well-used community facility
Enabling flexible arrangements for traditional and contemporary worship
Improving sustainable management and protecting the premises as a continued community asset for future generations
Providing the base for an increased range of community services
Assisting the Church to achieve its vision and mission
Reducing the carbon footprint of the building

Fundraising

The whole scheme cost in the region of £250,000. We secured £170,496 in grants from external funders, £20,000 came from the sale of our adjacent church hall and the remainder we raised ourselves through fundraising events such as quiz nights, generous donations and individual fundraising efforts.

External Scheme Funders

We are very grateful to the following grant-making bodies for their financial support of the project.

WREN (Waste Recycling Environmental)
The Clothworkers' Foundation
The Joseph Rank Trust
The Connexional Fund for Property
Whitehaven Methodist Circuit
The Norwood and Newton Settlement
The Connexional Priority Fund
The Garfield Weston Foundation
Cumbria Waste Management Environment Trust
Cumbria Methodist District
Allchurches Trust
The Crossfield Trust
The Coalfields Regeneration Trust
Banks Community Fund
The Hadfield Trust
The Bernard Sunley Foundation
Cumbria County Council
Copeland Borough Council