Creation of the Centre at St Paul's

Photographs courtesy of Peter Park

In November 2006, the Centre at St Paul's celebrated its 10th anniversary. The Victorian church used one day a week was converted into a multi-functional building comprising worship space and a brand-new facility designed to meet the needs of the community. The accompanying photographs chart the transformation.

 Today St Paul's is a unique combination of a church and centre, two independent but united entities working closely together for the benefit of the community.

Before conversion, the table and pulpit were at the east end. The interior walls were painted yellow ochre and there was a balcony at the west end (left above). The floor space was occupied by rows of pews. The screen and doors on the left of the right-hand photograph have been retained as have the wooden pillars but the area at the back is now the Centre kitchen.

The left-hand photograph shows the interior of the church  looking towards the tower (west end) and what is now the Lower Tower Room. The old pulpit is on the right of the photograph, the eagle lectern on the left. The photograph on the right shows the north side of the original church interior with left, the stairs to the balcony. The area on the left is now the Centre kitchen.

Left: a photograph taken during the construction phase showing what is now the Lower Hall with the Lower Tower Room at back right. One of the original wooden pillars is clearly visible. The opening on the left is the new way into the Centre from the entrance hall. In the right hand photograph, the new wall dividing the church in two and creating the Lower Hall in the Centre is already in place up to first floor level.  

The left-hand photograph shows the same new wall from the Centre side looking towards the east end of the church. The Lower Hall of the Centre is in the foreground with the door to the children's toy cupboard on the left of the picture in the breeze block wall. The  photograph on the right shows the builders creating the entrance to the Centre in the outer south wall of the church.

Left: the Upper Hall takes shape on the first floor of the newly created Centre. The doors at the foot of the arch lead to what is now the Upper Tower Room. Right: the wall dividing the church and the Centre is now in place although it still needs to be plastered and painted. In the foreground, the church floor boards are in the process of being sanded. 
 

Left: general view looking towards the new wall separating the church and the Centre. Right: the floor being relaid looking towards the east end of the church.