A WOODLEY church has passed the halfway target to build a new neighbourhood centre.
The Emmanuel Church in Southlake Crescent has raised £146,000 for the centre which will connect to the main building.
The church’s pastor, the Revd Sean Riordan, said he hoped work would start by next spring and should be completed within three months.
The neighbourhood centre will be available for community groups and events as well as church members and will also free up space in the church itself.
It will also replace outdated portable cabins on the site.
“As a church we will gain much needed and far better facilities for children’s and youth work, for meals and meetings, for worship, prayer and outreach,” Mr Riordan explained.
“The wider community and local organisations will have quality facilities to hire on at affordable not-for-profit rates.
“Well have more room for our café area, a second hall, a large kitchen and better toilet facilities.
“What we build in the present will provide a legacy for generations to come. Overall, Emmanuel will become more of a hub for our neighbourhood and be enabled to reach out to more people with the love of Jesus.
“We are confident we can start the building work by March 2020. It is with this sense of expectation and progress that we are making our appeal to every member of our community to give prayerfully and generously. All funds raised will go the building project.”
Mr Riordan added the church had set a target of £240,000, and while most of the money raised so far had come from private donations, a just giving page had also been set up.
The original church was built in the 1960s and the small congregation as grown to more than 100 every Sunday.
And the church will be right next to new homes being built on the site of the former Woodley Day Centre.
Mr Riordan added: “The Emmanuel Neighbourhood Centre is ultimately all about people and relationships. It is about providing a safe, warm and welcoming place where people and relationships can thrive.”
To donate to the neighbourhood fund, go to: www.justgiving.com/campaign/NeighbourhoodCentre
