Church revamp is taking shape (From Keighley News)

Church revamp is taking shape

11:30am Friday 8th April 2011 in Keighley By David Knights

A welcoming new entrance hall has been created at Keighley Shared Church following a £58,500 building project.

The foyer will provide space for meetings and public events and for churchgoers to gather before services.

Old wooden doors have been replaced with semi-glazed outer doors to allow passers-by to see into the church for the first time.

The entrance, named The Meeting Place, also has new carpets, heating, energy-saving lighting and a glass inner door to keep out draughts.

The Shared Church, off Church Green, is one of the most prominent churches in Keighley and has both Anglican and Methodist congregations. For the past four years church leaders have been planning major alterations and received permission in 2009 from the Bradford Diocesan authorities.

The Rev Peter Mott, the priest-in-charge, said The Meeting Place was the first phase and had been well received by the congregation and visitors.

He said: “It is much more welcoming and when the church is shut people can still see in.

“The prayer of dedication included the words: ‘Make the door of this house wide enough to receive all who need human love and fellowship, but narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride and strife’.

“The main contractor is John Shuttleworth, of Silsden, who has done a great job. We are very grateful to our donors: in addition to our own church funds and donations by our members we received grants from Airedale Methodist Circuit, the Church of England Community Fund and Bradford Diocese Building Fund.”

Mr Mott said there were three more phases before the alterations would be complete, with the next phase now under way.

He said: “A new projector and screens will enhance our worship and meetings with words and pictures “There will be a camera so that baptisms at the font can be seen in the main body of the church and also the organist, choir and microphone/audio-visual operator can see what the ministers are doing.

“Phase three will be new energy-efficient lighting in the main church and phase four is re-painting. All donations will be gratefully received.”

The church will hold an open day on April 30, as part of a St George’s Weekend, when everyone can go to see the alterations.