St. Martin’s Church, Southdene, has been refurbished this year to a very high standard. After many years of fundraising, everything finally came together at the beginning of 2010 to completely transform the church. The building was decorated inside and outside, a new entrance has been added, with a new meeting room in what was the foyer.
Inside, a new lighting scheme was installed, restoring the use of pendant lighting that the church had originally. A modern kitchen and toilets have been created in what was a corridor and storage space, and the old pipe organ was sold to a church near Leeds, and the space has been used to create a cafe area.
The project has been environmentally friendly all the way through, installing low energy lighting, and re-using the wood from the old choir stalls to make the servery for the kitchen.
For anyone who knew the old St. Martin’s, it’s hard to describe just how much of a transformation has happened.
The building is now open and in use by various groups, and is available for other community organisations to hire.
Refurbished exterior of St. Martin's Church
Refurbished interior of St. Martin's
St. Martin's kitchen
Jeremy Fagan is the Team Vicar of St. Martin's Church, Southdene, and the Children's Chaplain to the Parish of Kirkby.
Just wanted to say how fabulous the church looks after the refurb.I did see it half way through and was not sure how it would look when finished. The building has retained it’s origionality and uniqueness whilst being brought up to date at the same time.Marvellous job and congratulations to all concerned.
Also to say how myself and my litle grandson Robbie enjoyed the St Martin’s Day service. Good to see so many familiar and welcoming faces.
Best Wishes Sylvia Blackburn.