4:40pm Sunday 8th November 2009
A pile of rubble is to be transformed into a brilliant glass-fronted building welcoming people off the street and into Silsden Methodist Church.
Demolition work has begun on the site of the 19th century building which has housed the town’s religious ceremonies and community groups for more than 150 years to make way for a modern and more enticing design.
The plans reveal an ornate glazed entrance using some of the existing stained glass windows and a glazed cross will be illuminated from inside the building.
Automatic doors will welcome people into the church on a level access from Kirkgate and the building itself will contain a place for worship for up to 200 people, with four areas capable of accommodating groups. Parking facilities for the disabled are also being provided.
The building — two-thirds the size of the last without the extra corridors — will be more specious and also include a kitchen.
Altogether the project, being constructed by Keighley building firm RN Wooler and Company, is expected to take a year to complete and include seven houses built on land behind the church.
Tim Sharp, from the Kirkgate Project for Silsden Methodist Church, said: “In its hay day this church had 1,000 visitors and on a Sunday now we will get 100 people coming to the service, and a lot more using the facility for clubs and groups. The building will be much nearer the main road so it will be easier and more inviting for people to come in. We want more people to come in and use the building and the church itself, and we want the groups to come back and bring more with them.”
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