A £500,000 project to create a public performance area next to Huddersfield Parish Church is six weeks ahead of schedule.

The scheme will provide a large area between the church and St Peter’s Gardens and was due to be completed by October but it may be ready in September now.

Alan Eastwood, chairman of the Buildings Committee at the church and a former church warden, said: “When it’s finished it will be a large multi-use outdoor performance space so we hope to be able to hold outdoor services there along with events such as our summer fair.

“But the space is absolutely for community use so we hope it will be used by dance, theatre and music groups, exhibitions and even small markets. It’s making an unused space into something really useful, flexible and vibrant.”

The project has involved moving some graves, and gravestones will be used as paving along with cobbles and Victorian lamp-posts.

“It will be smart and modern yet very much in keeping with the church,” said Alan. “Some of the stone being used is the same as the stone originally used to build the church.”

 

 

 

 

The project has been jointly funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Kirklees Council and Huddersfield Parish Church, which is also known as St Peter’s.

The work is being done by contractors William Birch who have experience working on many ecclesiastical projects.

Alan added: “Some of the work has been very sensitive, involving moving and then reinterring human remains, but the contractors have been incredibly sympathetic and respectful. I can’t praise them highly enough.”

The church’s curate, the Rev Amanda Ogilvie, said the space will be great for the Huddersfield community.

“We are already having exciting conversations with people who have captured the imagination of the project and are looking for ways to join in with us,” she said.

Written by ANDY HIRST who runs his own Yorkshire freelance journalism agency AH! PR (https://ah-pr.com/) specialising in press releases, blogging, website content and copywriting.

 

Kirklees Council approves grant for events space at St Peter’s Gardens and says people who hang out there will get the help they need