Converting a historic Leeds Church to a community centre can now go ahead. Thanks to a lottery cash injection, St Luke’s in Holbeck will receive immediate attention. It’s a grade II listed building, meaning special historical status. Over the years, it’s been home to some important community events. Now, it’s set for some important renovations to put it back at the heart of the local community. Church users and community groups alike are celebrating the £500k. What’s better is that this is the largest single grant from the BLF to any fund in this quarter.
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How Converting a Leeds Church Will Benefit the Community
The main part of the extension includes a new cafe and drop in centre. The Malvern Road building will also house a new kitchen area and divide some of it into more rooms too. It’s part of an overall strategy for churches to remain relevant in the 21st century. With falling congregations, converting a Leeds church to aid the broader community isn’t just a shrewd act, but a vital one. Couple this with the need to protect a historic building and this cash injection is very good news for all concerned.
St Luke’s hosts football groups and hosts Scouts, Cubs, and Beaver meetings. Couple that with some modern events such as mother’s and toddlers groups and holiday club groups, breakfast clubs and art groups, it’s clear they intend to remain at the heart of Leeds. All this – converting a Leeds church for broader community use would not have been possible without the support from lottery players. The more people play, the better we can support both community and heritage assets across the country. St Luke’s in Holbeck will carry on its fine work for the Leeds community.