Camp Hill church hall has a revamp and a new project is launched!
Camp Hill church in Nuneaton closed for worship in February 2021. A new Parochioal Church Council (PCC) was formed, and asked Together For Change (TFC ) which is a charity project of the diocese of Coventry, to lead on a project to raise funds and renovate the church hall.
Jet Jones (CEO and Project Lead) and the trustees from TFC were keen to support this community which sits within a significant area of deprivation within the diocese. So far just over £10,000 has been raised to renovate the hall, and more funding is needed to renovate the kitchen and toilets in phase 2.
Dave Jones (TFC) oversaw the renovation project working with volunteers from Bedworth Parish Church and the local community. New electrics were installed, walls repaired and painted, and the hall was fitted with soft furnishings and a children’s play area, with the aim of creating a warm place of welcome for the community, similar to the TFC ‘Saints Nuneaton’ project in the town centre.
The newly renovated hall took its inspiration and good working relationships with funders from the TFC project ‘Saints Nuneaton’. The hope is that within the centre a variety of different community projects will operate.
Our first project is where we have teamed up with Feeding Coventry to start a new mobile food pantry from the hall every Friday afternoon. Citizens Advice have also partnered with us to provide free advice and support to families who visit the food pantry, advising them with issues such as housing and, the rising cost of fuel, while staff and volunteers provide cups of coffee and a friendly person to talk to.
The project has been warmly received by members of the community who are thrilled to see the hall open once again, and the food pantry has arrived to the relief of many who have been referred.
Area Dean David Poultney hosted the opening service on Wednesday 27th April which was well attended by members of the community, volunteers and others wanting to pray for the area. Archdeacon Barry Dugmore said he was thankful for the faithful church family of St Mary & St John, and this new beginning was perhaps part of an answer to their prayers for renewal as their numbers had declined. In due course it is hoped that a new congregation will begin to meet and the parish church enter a new season of life to worship God and to serve the community of Camp Hill.
Area Dean Rev’d Dave Poultney said “We are really excited as the local Anglican churches in North Warwickshire to support and encourage this transformation. It enables us as the church to encourage and support the amazing community of Camp Hill. I see new shoots of growth and life which are just thrilling. We are looking forward to working with the residents of Camp Hill to start new projects such as toddler groups, groups for those experience isolation and loneliness and youth work.”
Jet Jones from TFC is thrilled with the success of the project so far, and there are plans for the kitchen and toilets to be renovated once funds have been sourced. She said: “Building on the success of Saints Nuneaton, we will seek to launch more projects from within the building that will bring lasting change”.
The Camp Hill PCC and TFC would like to thank the volunteers who have given financially and of their time to see this project get off the ground. We are excited to see what God is going to do in this community. Watch this space!
If you would like to give financially or of your time to get involved, please do get in touch with Jet Jones by email at jet.jones@coventry.anglican.org
