MAJOR plans to expand a Malvern church to make it more beneficial to the community have been submitted in the year of its 150th anniversary.
Lansdowne Crescent Methodist Church has applied for planning permission from Malvern Hills District Council to improve the building’s accessibility and make it more multi-functional.
The church team want to add extensions to the front and back of the building – including a new glass foyer – to make it more welcoming with the creation of a new activity room, complete with toilets and storage and to provide a more functional use for the current children’s playgroups and other groups.
It also aims to install a lift at the back of the building to give people with limited mobility easier stairs access as well as making the ‘dangerous’ rear staircase less steep to make it safer.
The current pedestrian and car access into the church will remain unaltered.
The church, not a Listed building, was built in 1866 and the expansion will be created in the same style to how it was originally built.
It is not known yet how much the expansion will cost but church bosses hope to have an idea in the coming months with funding coming from fundraisers, grants and the church itself.
Reverend Alison Richards said: “Following the church review in 2013/14 the members of Lansdowne Crescent had a vision to make the church a more welcoming, inclusive church which is open to all throughout the week and provides excellent provisions for worship, families and children, faith development, pastoral care and service in the community.
“Because the building is now its 150th year, we said to ourselves what are we going to do in the future to continue its legacy.
“The project is all about the future of the church so it is engaging, sharing and serving with the community.
“Once we have all the relevant information available the church trustees will make the decision about the future development of the church premises.”
Malvern Hills District Council have scheduled a final decision target date for early December.
Numerous events have took place throughout the year to mark the church’s 150th anniversary.
And Lansdowne Crescent’s final 150th birthday celebration event is their New Year’s Eve party which takes place at 8pm followed by a midnight service to see in the New Year.
For further information call Revd Alison Richards on 01684 561224 or visit www.lansdownemethodist.org.uk.
