In order to make our premises ideal for all those groups who want to use them, as well as being what we want as a church, we are embarking on a huge project to improve the facilities that we have got.

The sanctuary will have a lighter and brighter entrance through glass doors into the lobby and then into a central aaisle. It will be fully carpeted and there will be comfortable chairs downstairs instead of pews. The pulpis will be moved back a little but will look just the same, and that will make more space in the communion area. Upstairs some of the central pews will be altered to give more leg-room and be more comfortable to sit on. This will give us a total of 200 comfortable seats making it a beautiful place for worship and an ideal venue for presentations and concerts.

The side entrance to the premises will be improved by the addition of a welcoming porch and a wide corridor linking the sanctuary and the main hall. We are keeping our stage, but making it possible for it to be used as a comfortable meeting room when not needed as a stage. Along with new toilets and a quiet prayer room, all of this will make our building fit for all the needs of the community.

All these plans are very well advanced with a hope that the work will begin in the autumn of 2010.

The estimated cost of £360,000 for the project is giving us the oportunity to have plenty of good quality events to raise money and also for many individuals to raise money in a variety of ways. During 2009 Donald's cycle ride raised £26,000 to be shared between our project and Martin House and a group walked the 51 mile Minster Way raising almost £6,000. The Auction of Promises raised over £4,000 and led to many people learning new skills or sharing new experiences. A ceilidh, Christmas Fair, Burns Night, wine and cheese evening, a talk by Mark Reid of Dales walking frame and a concert by Manchester Jazz have all added to our fund-raising as well as many smaller events and efforts by individuals. It has been great to see so many people of the town enjoying fellowship at our events.