Sneak preview of new £1.7m church community hall in Truro

Here is a sneak peek inside a church community hall near Truro which is being given a £1.7m revamp.

The Lifehouse, part of All Saints Highertown (ASH) church, is currently under construction and is due to officially open in September this year.

The aim of this project is to create a purpose-built community hub with café, toilets, a Changing Places room, information point and large and small spaces for community groups to meet.

A number of tours of the building, where work is in progress, were held  during the summer to entice local organisations to book the facilities when completed.

Church members have been working hard to make this space a reality since it was first envisaged in 2016. The old hall on the site has been knocked down to make room for the new hub. So far it looks like it will be a clean and airy, light building – designed to cut carbon and be an accessible space for all. It has been carefully thought through – right down to the colour of the café furniture – in order that it is accessible to all and everyone feels welcome.

Over the years there has been much fundraising by ASH congregation to see this project come to fruition. Other money has come from private funders and bodies such as Cornwall Council – Truro Diocesan Board of Finance also gave assistance with the provision of a loan for £150,000 towards costs.

Tony Cruddas, ASH PCC Secretary, said: “I will be very thankful when the building is finished. It has been a lot of work over many years, supported by a lot of prayer, but we are very pleased with this building. We hope it will be a meeting place for the local community.”

“We hope it will be well used and be a blessing to everyone.” – Jean Cooke, Churchwarden at All Saints Highertown

Jean Cooke, Churchwarden at All Saints Highertown, said: “We are all so excited, it is the most wonderful thing that could happen for this area. We hope it will be well used and be a blessing to everyone.”

The church has long provided space for a variety of meetings. These include toddler groups, social support services, support groups, youth groups, and music groups such as choirs and orchestras as well as exercise and dance classes. It is hoped the new facilities will also attract education and skills providers, and health and wellbeing classes.

Building work is being supported by funders including Cornwall Council, The Shared Prosperity Fund – Good Growth Fund, The National Lottery Community Fund, Truro Diocese, and a number of charitable foun

dations, trusts and private donors. Other funds have come from donations and proceeds from fundraising events organised by the congregation.