Money rolling in for new church project

RESIDENTS are closer to raising the £1.7 million needed for their new church after a £5,000 donation which will unlock a further £50,000.

Churches Together in Cambourne wants to create a church centre in the heart of the new community.

So far, the five churches which make up the umbrella organisation - the Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, United Reformed and Roman Catholic churches - have contributed thousands of pounds to the appeal.

The proposed church, which already has the necessary planning permission, will include a crèche, café, large multi-purpose arena, open-all-hours chapel and rooms to let to local groups.

Now Cambourne Parish Council has donated £5,000 to Churches Together, which should unlock a further £50,000 from the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme - the tax credit cash is made available once a community has put up a certain amount of money itself.

Grants made under the scheme aim to improve existing facilities as well as providing new ones, such as play areas and village halls. Historic and religious buildings can also receive funding for restoration work.

John Vickery, from the parish council, said: "The funding we have provided is for the community side of the new church.

"It will help toward putting in community facilities, such as meeting rooms and rooms for training, for example, and will help to assist people learning to cope in their own homes."

The people behind the church want it to be a place to worship collectively, but also a place where people less familiar with the church can go and feel relaxed.

A spokesman from Churches Together confirmed the cost of the building programme had been reduced to £1.7 million from £3.5 million.

For further information about the appeal, or to get involved, contact Bob Candlin at the Appeal Office, Jeavons Lane, Cambourne, Cambridge CB3 6AF or call (01954) 715513.

Donations can be made online via the Charities Aid Foundation at www.cambournechurchcentre.org

As reported in the Cambridge Evening News