FOLLOWING a £1.3 million restoration, All Saints Church, Wokingham, reopened its doors to the public.
After major interior restoration and reordering the building is now a flexible, multi purpose community space.
Prior to the work, the church was not easily accessible, with uneven floors, out-of-date heating, and an inadequate doorway.
The installation of a new glass and steel door, with level entry and flooring, makes it accesssible to everyone.
Floor ledgers, monuments and a fifteenth-century font have also been restored and moved to more accessible locations.
Internal chalk pillars have also been restored, and under floor heating installed.
The building re-opened at the weekend, and the hope is that the new space will help meet some of the pressing challenges the local community will be facing over the next few years, including the cost-of-living crisis and a need to reduce carbon emissions and transport costs.
The building will be able to host art, music and charity events and will open as a new community café, the Cafe@AllSaints, this summer.
The Revd Canon David Hodgson, Rector of All Saints, said: “Churches have often aspired to offer an open welcoming space for all.
“Yet we have not always been able to realise that vision, because of the inflexibility of our church buildings.
“The ultimate purpose of this refurbishment was to enhance the life of the community and to provide an accessible meeting space, which can offer greater opportunities for people to worship, encounter God, and meet one another.
“We are incredibly grateful to all in the congregation and in the parish who have supported the project to create this beautiful and inspiring building.
“Our prayer going forward is that this will be a shared community space where everyone feels equally welcome.”
The cost of restoration has been generously supported by local people, the church congregation, private donors, and local and national grants.
Construction began last year, but the project has been 10 years in the making.
The church building officially reopened on Monday, June 19, when a special service of thanksgiving was led by the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft.
Around 200 people attended the service, including local residents, parishioners, donors, and representatives of civic groups and charities.
Also in attendance were Wokingham Town Mayor Cllr Sally Gurney, Wokingham Borough Council Mayor Cllr Beth Rowland, Deputy Leutenant Richard Anderson, and High Sheriff Lucy Zeal.
“This project is a great example of a group of people coming together to make the world a better place,” said Mr Hodgson.
“I really appreciate all the support we have had from people and organisations.
“And I’m so grateful to have been able to be part of the planning lead.
“It’s fantastic to see the building finally open, and people have been blown away by the transformation.
“The space is there now, a tremendous facility for the town.
“It was never just about a building, it’s all about the people who will use it.”
For information, visit: www.allsaintswokingham.org.uk
