A CHURCH in Oswestry has been given a huge financial boost towards its new facility in the heart of the town.

Hope Church Oswestry, which is currently in Laburnum Drive, was given £27,000 by the Allchurches Trust towards building a new community facility in the centre of town, near Leg Street towards Central car park.

The new purpose-built facility will seat 300 and provide a range of community activities as Hope Church looks to expand its provision for the people of Oswestry.

Hope Church has bought the land next to the main car park and received full planning permission, while demolition work has already begun on the existing buildings there – progress that has left Derek Hughes, church pastor, delighted.

“This is going to be a fantastic facility for Oswestry and really bring life to the town centre," he said.

"We are so grateful to the support of Allchurches Trust,” explained Derek Hughes, Pastor of the church.

Paul Playford, Allchurches Trust Grants Officer, added: “Hope Church actively engages with a range of other organisations in the town to support those people most in need of their help, from regular job clubs and providing access to IT in partnership with Christians Against Poverty (CAP) to foodbanks and supporting community regeneration projects.

"More recently, they have set up a project that supports families in need by providing school uniforms at affordable prices.

“This is a church with a mission to meet the needs of local people at its heart, and we’re delighted that the new community hub we’re helping to fund will allow Hope Church to significantly step up this support, with plans for a daily café, a debt advice service and support for victims of abuse.

"Its move to a town centre location will also make all of these services much more accessible and we look forward to following the progress of this inspirational project with potential to make such a positive impact in the town.”

Allchurches Trust is one of the UK's largest grant-making charities and gave more than £17.8 million to churches, charities and communities in 2019 and funds come from its ownership of Ecclesiastical Insurance Group.

Currently all of Hope Church Oswestry’s services are provided online and we can be found on Facebook, YouTube and www.hopechurchoswestry.org.uk