Chesterton church for cash grant (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Chesterton church for cash grant

PLANS for Chesterton church will receive a much-needed financial boost this week if a council grant is successful.

Church planners have asked CDC for £12,355.19 to help fund building work at St Lawrence Church in Countess Lilias Road.

The cash would make up a third of the £35,300 needed to complete the first stage of work at the community church, which includes building a new entrance and porch on the road-facing side of the church and facilities for disabled people.

Cirencester vicar Revd Michael St John Channell said: "The project is to make the church much more available for the community.

"We want it to be used by the local people because it is a really great facility right in the middle of an area where there aren't any other facilities.

"Work will probably start within the next few months - we have already had some grants and we will hear about the CDC grant in the next two weeks."

The building work is expected to change the look of the church significantly as the old entrance will no longer be used.

And once the building is brought in line with new disabled laws, the next stages of work can then be implemented.

The total development cost will be in the region of £600,000.

Revd Michael added: "They are longer term changes really and will go in two more stages.

"We will be adding to the building as well, making much better facilities for young and old people."

CDC's capital grants panel will decide whether to back the grant application at a meeting on Tuesday.

Its recommendations will then be passed on to Cllr Julie Girling, who as leader of the council makes the final decision.

Revd Michael said: "Every bit of financial support will be very helpful."

o Chesterton will also soon have a new lay minister. Kola Tayo, who currently lives in Hull, has been appointed to run St Lawrence Church and is expected to arrive sometime in October. He also plans to visit Cirencester next week.