Lancaster church all set for £2.6m refurb

St Thomas’ Church in Marton Street has gone out to tender for its Heart of The City project, which was granted planning permission in the summer of 2019.
The estimated cost of the building works is £2.6m, and so far, the congregation has already donated over £1.5m through wage sacrifices and other donations. This is expected to reach £1.9m by the end of the year.

Community fundraising events to date have raised over £28,000.

The final element of fundraising has come from grants and these now total £151,000.

The church said it has been overwhelmed by the generosity of their donors including The Countess Dowager Eleanor Peel Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation and Lancashire Environmental Fund.

The plan for St. Thomas’ new centre is to offer a much greater level of support to the community in Lancaster, and its vulnerable members, in an environmentally friendly multi-use building. For example, the church plans to offer a listening/counselling service for people struggling with isolation, depression and anxiety.

It will offer a Christians Against Poverty life course, teaching money management and cooking skills, as well as pastoral care services such as support for the elderly and those with dementia, as well as many activities already on offer for children and young people. The plans for the roof space in the building have been changed in order specifically to meet the needs of the youth groups, giving them their own space in which to meet.

Jon Scamman, vicar of St. Thomas Church said: “We are so grateful to all our donors for their generous grants and gifts.

“Without these, we would not be able to go out to tender.

“We have reached an exciting stage of the project and hope to receive competitive tenders soon, from building contractors who share our vision and understand our values.”