Maiden events lined up for new church hall

Members of the congregation of Holy Cross Church are holding their first public event in the revamped facility this weekend.

The resumption of the monthly mini-markets will begin at 10am

on Saturday, May 2. It will be followed by a plant sale at the same time on May 16.

The modern space is the result of a 150,000 fundraising campaign during the past eight years.

Its success enabled new premises to be transplanted on to the shell of the previous 80-year-old church hall. Just two interior doors remain of the old fixtures.

Church treasurer Beryl Giles said: "People who knew the old hall can't believe what we have now is that building refurbished."

One of the church wardens, Ted Towse, stated: "The hall is important to the local community. Now the hall is completed, people have been calling up quite frequently about holding events here. Adult education will be holding courses here from September.

"We couldn't advertise before because we were worried about health and safety problems."

The campaign for a new hall was begun in 2001 by former parish priest, Father Nigel Tuck.

An initial plan was costed at 350,000 but this was rejected by church authorities because of an architectural dispute. The scheme they approved came in at 1.2m.

Mr Tuck's replacement, the Rev John Quigley, took over the leading role as parishioners continued to fundraise. But it became apparent that trying to raise more than 1m was unrealistic.

The decision was taken instead to concentrate on creating up-to-date premises around the existing hall.

Work began on the site at the junction of the A259 Chichester Road and North Bersted Street last August. It was completed in March.

A small Easter Sunday party was the first church event to be held in the building as the final touches were being made to the improvements.

They have created a main hall with a capacity of about 80 people along with a large conservatory at the rear. It is intended to use this as a drop-in cafe.

Taking out the old stage, lowering the ceiling and installing new lighting has left visitors to the hall amazed at the transformation.

A modern kitchen, toilets, choir room and offices complete the new-look premises along with a covered connection into the church. Full disabled access is available.

An official opening ceremony of the hall will take place on June 19. It is hoped Mr Tuck and Syd Giles, the church treasurer when the fundraising was launched, will perform the ceremony.

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