St Paul’s Wins Civic Society Award - Press Release
11th October 2011 - NEWS FROM ST PAUL’S CHURCH, ST ALBANS
ST PAUL’S ‘DELIGHTED’ AT WINNING CIVIC SOCIETY AWARD
St Paul’s Church, Blandford Road, is delighted that its new buildings have won the Annual Award from the St Albans Civic Society.
The major development to the Fleetville church and its adjacent hall facilities was completed last September – as the Church of England parish church celebrated its centenary.
The project involved the total refurbishment of the existing community hall building, the construction of a new two-storey link building including a large entrance lobby and the complete turning round of the church.
The work undertaken has made the buildings more accessible and welcoming to local people by:
- Providing a welcoming entrance to the complex
- linking the worship area and community facilities
- extending and improving the facilities to accommodate Sunday and midweek groups, including many community activities
- updating and improving kitchens, toilets and disability access
- providing a reception area and more office space
Vicar, Canon Tony Hurle, said: “We are delighted to have received this important award, as it recognises the care taken to develop the church in a way that is both practical and attractive. We worked to ensure that the older and modern features blended with each other, and we believe that we have achieved this.
“The congregation at St. Paul’s and other local people who use the church have been thrilled with their new facilities and the flexibility they provide.
“Since opening last year, it has been exciting to see the facilities so busy throughout the week with so many church and community activities taking place. We are grateful to God for his goodness in enabling it all as we try to serve local people both now and into the future.”
St Paul’s would like to thank architects, MEB Design Ltd., quantity surveyors Synergy LLP and contractors Farnrise Construction Ltd. for enabling the vision – which began to grow in 1998 – become a reality.
The Award Ceremony took place at the Abbey Theatre, St Albans on 11th October. Each year the St Albans Civic Society celebrates imaginative development and design initiatives which have been completed within the city during the previous year. All the projects nominated for 2010 were judged to have contributed to enhancing the environment, culture and community of the city.
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More information about St Paul's contact the Church Office Tel. 01727 846 281
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More information about the Civic Society and the awards at: www.stalbanscivicsociety.net
