Cash boost for church’s ambitious plans

Mrs Vivien Carter, a deputy lieutenant of the Duchy of Lancaster (kneeling, front left) hands over a cheque for £600 to Mrs Margaret Spencer to boost the St Andrew's, Dearnley Wider Welcome fund, surrounded by members of the Littleborough International Women's Association.

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Women from many parts of the world, who now reside in the Littleborough district, were happy to learn something of their adopted region's history during their last meeting in the parish room at St Andrew's Church, Dearnley.

It is with user groups like Littleborough International Women's Association in mind that St Andrew's are pressing ahead with ambitious plans to create a modern and fit-for-purpose community centre.

The Duchy of Lancaster approved the Church's application for grant aid and one of its deputy lieutenants, Mrs Vivien Carter, handed over a cheque for £600 during a meeting of LIWA.

Mrs Carter said: "It's some years since I was last at St Andrew's, but I can see an enormous improvement thanks to all the work that has been done to the exterior of the building and to its access. Well done to you all. Keep up the good work."

Stuart Carmichael, the church's officer for Building and Fabrics and a leading member of the Wider Welcome steering committee, with special responsibility for acquiring grant aid, said: "We have completed a lot of outside work, but we have lots of plans to make this parish room more comfortable and more user-friendly and to put in more toilet facilities with disabled access. It is an ongoing project."

By September 30, the end of the scheme's first year, Wider Welcome is expected to have raised about £30,000.

The next phase of work includes the installation of a ramp and automatic doors from the porch into the parish room and it is hoped that this will be completed by the end of the calendar year.

More ambitious plans beyond that are the subject of ongoing discussions and debate with the Architect and other qualified advisers.

In the meantime PCC treasurer Chris Longhurst has been invited to become an ex-officio member of the steering group, thus forging a direct link between PCC and Wider Welcome.