WELCOME TO ST JAMES CENTRE
A modern community centre is being developed in the old school building across the road from St James Church.
Over the last few months 100s of people have volunteered 1000s of hours of their time to refurbish SJC...and have had loads of fun doing so.
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It is less than a year since St James Church saw, in January 2019, the opportunity for this exciting venture. Plans were drawn up and there were consultations among church members and within the local community.
By the summer, the money was in place to purchase the building without the need for borrowing, thanks to the generosity of church members and others. Money has also been granted by Devizes Area Board, and a programme of further grant applications has begun to be effective. In October, more than fifty people spent a weekend beginning the process of refurbishing the building: cleaning, removing or applying paint, and clearing the area surrounding the building. Since then there have been smaller work parties two or three times a week. However, there is a lot of work that will need professionals to do. What is this all about? St James Centre will be a flexible, fully accessible and well-equipped community centre within the redundant Victorian school building. On the ground floor it will provide an office and confidential meeting room for staff, a general meeting room, and a commercial kitchen in a space large enough to double as a meeting room. Upstairs, there is a large hall able to seat some 150 people, and a further meeting room. Accessibility will be ensured by the provision of a platform lift reaching all areas, a disabled WC/wet room, and various other modifications for those with mobility and visual impairment. |
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Why is a church doing this?
· SJC will be a better location than the church building for activities provided by the church primarily for the community, including our Money Course, Life Skills course and TasteLife eating disorders course. There will be spacious new facilities for the Tuesday at Two talk and tea sessions, and for the Silver Screen Cinema club.
· SJC will be used by charities and other organisations who want, as we do, to benefit the community and encourage its people to flourish. We are members of the Devizes Area Health and Wellbeing group, and so have met several organisations who would be able to use these facilities, especially since other places have closed. There are some exciting plans…
· SJC will be used for church activities (to which others are welcome) like children’s groups as well as social events such a quiz nights and concerts.
· SJC will allow the relocation of the Church Office from the church building and so allow the clergy and admin team to be at the centre of community activities.
When will you open?
In the present circumstances, it is good to be able to share some good news: the SJC is moving forward!
Work is continuing, thanks to individual volunteers, tradespeople and companies, so that SJC will be available for use as a community building as soon as possible after the current restrictions are lifted. Of course, nothing is done without fully adhering to social distancing guidelines, often by having only one person working in any one room.
Any further questions? Contact Keith Brindle, the Vicar, on 01380 723891
· SJC will be a better location than the church building for activities provided by the church primarily for the community, including our Money Course, Life Skills course and TasteLife eating disorders course. There will be spacious new facilities for the Tuesday at Two talk and tea sessions, and for the Silver Screen Cinema club.
· SJC will be used by charities and other organisations who want, as we do, to benefit the community and encourage its people to flourish. We are members of the Devizes Area Health and Wellbeing group, and so have met several organisations who would be able to use these facilities, especially since other places have closed. There are some exciting plans…
· SJC will be used for church activities (to which others are welcome) like children’s groups as well as social events such a quiz nights and concerts.
· SJC will allow the relocation of the Church Office from the church building and so allow the clergy and admin team to be at the centre of community activities.
When will you open?
In the present circumstances, it is good to be able to share some good news: the SJC is moving forward!
Work is continuing, thanks to individual volunteers, tradespeople and companies, so that SJC will be available for use as a community building as soon as possible after the current restrictions are lifted. Of course, nothing is done without fully adhering to social distancing guidelines, often by having only one person working in any one room.
Any further questions? Contact Keith Brindle, the Vicar, on 01380 723891