People who live in a Herefordshire village are being offered lots of good reasons for popping in to their local church. St Peter’s Hall is a newly created meeting space developed in the nave of St Peter’s Church in Peterstow, near Ross-on-Wye, which will reopen next weekend. (27th/28th June)
“We are having the official opening of our brand new space which is beautifully situated in our Grade two starred (II*) listed church building,” said Barbara Gratton, one of the members of the Peterstow Community Project. “We now have a medieval building fit for the twenty first century.”
It has taken the Project nearly five years to raise the funds and get all the planning permissions in place. The scheme brought church and non-church people together to design and work out what the village needed. Questionnaires were completed, public meetings held and architects chosen. Fundraising events included plant sales, fayres concerts and anything that could raise much needed money. In 2008 a bid to the Big Lottery Fund was successful and the village found itself with £103,000.
“We held the last service on Christmas Day last year and the pews were taken out and sold in January through the local pew recycling company Take-A-Pew,” added Barbara. “The builders arrived in February and have transformed the church into just what we wanted.”
St Peter’s will still be used regularly for worship but will also be the place for a Lunch Club, Book Club, Gardening Club, Tai Chi for the over 50s run by Age Concern and a craft club still deciding on a name! The building now has kitchen and toilets and brand new chairs.
Celebrations at the weekend include the cutting of the ribbon at 3pm on Saturday 27th and a special service of Holy Communion and Rededication by the Bishop of Hereford, Anthony Priddis at 9.30am on Sunday 28th June. The Church is certain to be standing room only!
Note to editors. Barbara Gratton and other members of the Peterstow Community Project are available for interview and press are welcome over the weekend. Contact Anni Holden
Jpeg pictures are available on request from Anni Holden
Anni Holden, Director of Communications
The Diocesan Office, The Palace, Hereford HR4 9BL
Tel: 01432 373342 mobile 07889 186316
a.holden@hereford.anglican.org
www.hereford.anglican.org