£50,000 for church revamp

FUNDING has been approved for a new community hub in Upton Priory.

A grant of £50,000 from funding body WREN will be used to redevelop the Church of the Resurrection to create a community hall and new kitchen and toilets, as well as revamp the worship space.

Rev Stephen Callis, from the Church of the Resurrection, believes the new facility will make a huge difference to the lives of people living in the area when it opens at the end of 2016.

He said: “This project will provide a real boost to the people of Upton Priory.

“It’s fantastic that WREN has awarded us this money and we’re really looking forward to our church building developing into a community hub over the next 12 months.”

WREN is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community, biodiversity and heritage projects from funds donated by FCC Environment through the Landfill Communities Fund.

Richard Smith, WREN’s grant manager for Cheshire said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the refurbishment works at Upton Priory and are pleased our funding will make such a difference to so many groups of people across Macclesfield.”

Fundraising to pay for the works continues with a Christmas concert by the Society of Recorder Players on Sunday December 6 at 3pm. Tickets cost £7-£10.