A SIGNIFICANT new community space in Malmesbury has taken an additional step forward after securing a £30,000 grant.

The old and derelict Moravian church in Oxford Street is currently being converted into an extension of the Athelstan Museum.

Friends of Athelstan Museum secured the funding from Heritage Lottery Funding to help further works around the building.

It will be used towards making and planting a garden by the road complete with impressive art work.

It will also allow them to make an access to the rear of the building which will make it wheelchair friendly, with another part of the grant going towards equipment and display materials inside the building.

They have also named the new amenity, the Julia and Hans Rausing building.

The name will honour the benefactors who generously funded the purchase of the Moravian church.

Julia and Rausing Trust is a charitable trust that supports organisations and charities across the globe, providing more than 200 grants totalling more than £185 million.

The conversion work was to a very large degree, paid for by generous donations they received from so many organisations and individuals, and in particular, the Vale Action group.

Friends of Athelstan Museum chair Sharon Nolan said: “We named the new annex because we wanted to recognise them for the donation.

“All of this couldn’t be done without the generous help of members and supporters.

“We are really pleased with the results, it is a splendid building.

“We have tried to keeps its integrity, but also tried to make it more modern and flexible.”

Despite the huge funding, they have to provide match funding.

As part of a fundraising appeal, they are asking supporters to dedicate a chair for use in the Julia and Hans Rausing Building.

Each chair can have a small brass plague with a commemoration on it. Leaflets and forms are available in the museum.