PICTURES: Ambitious plans lodged for £1.1m redevelopment of historic Grantown church
A £1.1 million project to breathe new life into a historic church in Grantown has reached a major milestone with planning permission now being sought.
So far the proposal to transform Inverallan Church – built between 1884 and 1886 – into a 21st Century community hub has been five years in the making.
Project leaders are delighted that the planning application has now finally been submitted for changes that would radically change the interior of the Category B Listed church.
But they have stressed that Inverallan will still remain very much a place of worship and a strong visual connection into the ‘Life’ of the church is an essential component of the redesign.
Edinburgh-based Watson Burnett Architects state in their planning submission: "It is considered important that this ‘Life’ is not hidden away but rather something to be shared and celebrated."
The project will involve re-modelling the church's interior to provide:
n comfortable flexible sanctuary space capable of supporting contemporary ministry, and suitable for hosting concerts and community events.
The existing pews will be removed, and new heating and thermal insulation installed below the floor.
* Range of internal meeting rooms and activity spaces.
* Social enterprise café.
* Welcoming entrance.
* Community changing suite for use by special needs visitors to the town and for building users.
The only proposed external change to the church is converting a south-east facing window into an external door for access to a proposed cafe terrace.
Inverallan 20/20 project officer Barry Edmondson said: "It feels like we have a real project now. In terms of the funders they are looking for planning permission and ideally match-funding.
"We are hoping this will go through without any issue and we are keen to get even more support from the local community.
"The reality is that the church membership numbers are dwindling and unless something new and radical happens with the building it will cost a lot more to maintain than the income from those coming to church.
"We think via our consultation we have identified needs in the town and feel that the building would be a brilliant asset to deliver these."
John Wilson has just stood down as a church elder but been involved with the project from the outset. He said: "It has been a long haul so far so we are very pleased to get to this stage.
"We are excited for what it will do for the church and for the benefits it will bring to the community. It will be very bit as much a community building as a church – in fact more so as it will be open seven days per week.
"We are looking to create a versatile building and, after all the consultations and redrawing of plans we have had, we finally think we have something which is ambitious, good and will suit everybody."
Church leaders recognise that some residents might find it difficult to see major changes to a building which had been the focus for their major life events including christenings, weddings and funerals.
But Mr Edmondson said: "I think there is recognition that if the project does not go-ahead then the feasibility of the church comes into question because it is such a big building to maintain.
"The fall in income from collections and other givings means that it is difficult to see how it could be sustained without the project."
He recognises winning public and lottery funding has become much tougher because of the Covid pandemic and there are now more charities and causes out there chasing financial support.
Mr Edmondson said raising some £400,000 to £500,000 would give them a much stronger hand.
Some of this could be by 'realising some of the church's assets' but no final decisions have been taken.
He added: "I think that 2022 will be the year of fundraising with a big concerted effort and then 2023 would be the year of building."
Disruption and closure of the church would be kept to a minimum during building works but worship could continue in Inverallan Church Hall.
Alternatively work could be carried out in three phases.
So far around £100,000 has been raised by Inverallan 20/20 with half spent on architect fees, planning applications, consultations and associated costs.
In order to retain the powerful symmetry of the church, the new two-storey accommodation has been fitted within the two transepts with matching set-back dimensions from the sanctuary.
To maximise light into the sanctuary, extensive glass walls are proposed, allowing the visual flow of the ceiling structure to be maintained.
