WILL £140,000 BE ENOUGH TO BUY CHAPEL?
A COMMUNITY has raised £140,000 in just six weeks to help purchase a former chapel and turn it into a community centre.
Kingsley Holt chapel closed to religious services in 2019. The Kingsley Holt Centre community group immediately set about raising funds to buy the building.
If the group is successful in purchasing the building after the fundraising campaign, it could be used as a community centre for organisations with the possibility of a shop and cafe. It will be down to the Methodist Church to decide who they sell the building to.
The Kingsley Holt Centre Community Share offer has now closed after hitting £140,000.
A spokesman said: “We are so thankful to everyone that has been able to support our share offer and enable us to meet this fantastic total.
“Kingsley Holt Centre now has more than 120 shareholders, individuals, district and parish councillors, community groups and companies, members that have shown how important it is to save this community building.
“We have secured the support of the Booster Fund, which is funded by Power to Change and run by the Community Shares Unit. Under this programme up to £20,000 is available to match applications for shares from the public. This means that for every pound invested by individuals, up to £20,000, another pound will be invested in shares by the Booster Programme. The
match shares will be held by Cooperatives UK, a partner in the Community Shares Unit, and will be subject to the same terms and conditions as other Kingsley Holt Centre members, except for its right to withdraw share capital, which will be restricted to a prorata amount.
“This project is so vitally important to our community. The outstanding response to our share offer means we will now be able to make a realistic and fair offer. An offer to protect the heritage of the building ensures it continues to serve as a meeting place for its community and a focal point of our village.
“It will soon be down to the Methodist Church to decide who they sell to.
“Will it be a community ready and willing to offer a fair and realistic price. A community that wants to see this building continue to thrive as a community space, welcoming to all. Or will we see it fade sadly into the past, worst still will we watch as it disappears completely?
“The one thing we won’t be doing is sitting back and watching. We will fight all, and any, attempt to change the use of this building, any attempt to try and use it for any other purpose than community.
“Let’s hope our offer is acceptable and we can soon get started on reopening this building, get some joy back in its heart and a smile back on its face.”
For further information about the group, call 07443 397522 or visit the website at www. kingsleyholtcentre.co.uk
Villagers are hoping so as they look to turn building into a community centre