We are a small rural community and our Parish has a beautiful old schoolroom that is inaccessible to wheelchairs and buggies, it has one inadequate toilet and is lined with asbestos. It would be ideal as a community venue for up to 60 people, for all sorts of community events, meetings and parties. It is right next to one of the 6 churches in the Parish and therefore would be perfect for funerals, baptisms and small weddings.
We have 6 churches to maintain and a population of less than 2000, so finances are tight.
Our Rector is only part time and the office is within her house, so we want to incorporate an office for the whole parish, which can be used outside her working hours.
I used to take my children there for Mums and Toddlers as well as Sunday School. I think it is tragic that such a beautiful, but now neglected building, is no longer alive or enriching it's community. My friends and I raised £5000 5 years ago, to re-roof the kitchen, but the accessibility problems and the asbestos work was not addressed.