All Saints in Dunton Bassett have seen their church building grow into a vibrant community hub following a significant reordering project which was completed in August last year.
The project, which has been in motion since 2018, came to be when the church congregation realised that significant change was needed, says John Roberson - Chair of the All Saints Project Group.
“We had a declining, ageing congregation and we could see we would not continue to be financially viable through the generosity of the congregation alone,” he explains.
“In order to safeguard the fabric of the building and ensure its continuing use, we felt it needed to become a community space and were prepared to take the significant steps to make the building fit for purpose for the whole community.”
So, a small team was formed, made up of church members and ‘interested’ local residents, who started to visit other churches that had undertaken similar projects to see what was possible.
The team found that opening the project to outside involvement from the beginning was vital. As the vision took shape, it was shared by the whole village and helped along by officially endorsements from key community members, such as the local primary school head and the chairman of the village hall.
The reordering work was substantial, involving the partial removal of Victorian pews and the installation of underfloor heating, as well as vital maintenance to the church spire - and it was five years from when the project fully took shape in 2019 until the official opening in 2024, with further work still being completed.
The required funds, of more than £170,000, were raised through significant personal donations, grants, church reserves and £50,000 from a local charity, The Bird Trust.
A further £10,000 was raised through the initiatives of a new ‘Community Space Team’ who have committed to raising a further £10,000 annually through local events.
This team is a diverse group representing different age groups and different parts of the community.
Since reopening, the church has become a vibrant community hub, hosting 30 special events, such as concerts and a produce show, and being used regularly by a wide range of clubs and groups, including for crafts and exercise.
“Before the pews were removed there was no usable space – not even enough to properly socialise after church services,” explains John. “Now we have a welcoming, flexible space which is warm throughout the year. It is a big enterprise, but the rewards at the end are invaluable.”
Delighted with the benefits of this enhanced space, the Revd Sister Liz Heaton, Rector of the Upper Soar Benefice, says: “It's great to have a space that allows for greater flexibility in worship. A new nave altar is to be installed later this year which will enable communion to be available to everyone on a single level and creates a more intimate space.”
She adds: “We were able to host an Advent Labyrinth experience which used the whole of the space and invited people to engage in the Christmas story in a more interactive way.
“The new space provides opportunities for more activities with the local school. I am really looking forward to both church and community using this new space creatively.”
Use of the space continues to develop, with a Renew Wellbeing café due to open in June.
“All Saints, Dunton Bassett is a real story of hope,” says Gill Elliott, diocesan Building Development Enabler and Church Buildings Team Leader. “This is an inspirational example of how a small, rural PCC in our diocese are using their re-ordered church building to serve their local community and sustain their place of worship.”