Celebrations have begun after the final tiles were laid in the new toilet and kitchen in St Mary’s church.
The Aisle project, which included other improvements to make a flexible community space, has been a long journey. The revitalised facilities will make the space more open and accessible so the local community can come together
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Spokespersons Chris Parker and Sue Garland said: “It has long been a dream to open The Aisle as a space for social engagement. There are myriad possibilities for use, ranging from meeting for coffee, the fun of quiz nights, fetes, badminton and dancing, lectures, concerts, gigs and parties. We want this to become a hub for the whole community.”
The Aisle was formally opened by Lady Dannatt, the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk on the evening of April 16th. Invited guests included sponsors of the project and local people who have loyally supported the church through the years.
Church volunteers have worked tirelessly to raise over £100,000 for the improvement works. They held quiz nights and guest lectures, and sought donations from Bird Brand, British Sugar, Friends of St Mary’s, G’s Group, the Grangewell Trust, Warren Energy and grants from the Beatrice Laing Trust, the Benefact Trust, the Bernard Sunley Foundation, the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk’s Financial Assistance Small Grants Scheme, the Congregational and General Charitable Trust, Garfield Weston, the Geoffrey Watling Charity and the Norfolk Community Foundation.
The church, which is already home to a Food Pantry and the Community Information Point, is now a space which the whole the community can comfortably use. Why not pop by and see the changes for yourself? The church is open every day from 9am until 4pm, there is a weekly coffee morning on a Wednesday 9pm to 12pm and regular services on Sundays.
For more details visit: www.achurchnearyou.com/church/13970/
About St Mary’s Church
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St Mary’s, Feltwell is responsible for the care and maintenance of the parish church of St Mary’s and the churchyard around the redundant church of St Nicholas. Both churches are highly valued buildings in the village, but St Mary’s is much more a part of the local community used for regular worship and kept open from 9am until 6pm every day. It is host to a range of both religious and secular events. The church is Grade I listed with rich historical and architectural features including medieval carvings, and stained-glass windows by Didron and Ouidinot (of Paris) 1860.