The hall belonging to St Gabriel’s Church in Aldersbrook has had a big renovation this year. It’s all part of a refurbishment project ahead of celebrations to mark the venue’s centenary in 2027, says Georgina Brewis
There has been significant work to improve the hall at St Gabriel’s Church this year. Removing the old stage has allowed for expanded and more accessible storage to be installed for the benefit of the very wide range of community groups that use the hall every day. Importantly, disabled access has been improved.
These building works represent the latest stage in an ongoing refurbishment project, which is on track for completion in 2027 to mark the centenary of the hall’s opening. The project started in 2023 with the installation of solar panels on the roof of the hall, and from the beginning, has been driven by a goal of making it more environmentally sustainable and more accessible for users.
The money has been raised by the church and the Friends of St Gabriel’s through a range of community events and crowdfunding via the Big Give. We were also successful in securing a total of £40,000 in small grants from the National Lottery Community Fund, the Benefact Trust, the Garfield Weston Foundation and the Bernard Sunley Foundation.
The Friends are delighted to announce that in future the hall will be known as St Gabriel’s Community Hall, reflecting its importance at the heart of Aldersbrook and Lakehouse for nearly 100 years. Father Martyn Hawkes said: “I’m very happy to report that the Parochial Church Council has approved the rebranding of the hall. I’d like to thank the indefatigable volunteers within the Friends of St Gabriel’s, especially Richard Pratley, Willa King and Rusty Livock. The story doesn’t end here, however, as future works to complete the internal upgrade in time for 2027 are likely to cost another £40,000.”
To support the next stage of fundraising, it has been decided to relaunch the Friends of St Gabriel’s scheme, inviting people to pledge at least £2 per month by direct debit. These supporters will receive a 10% discount on event tickets and merchandise. Fundraisers planned for next year include a beer and comedy night with celebrated local comedian Laura Smyth and friends on 17 January and a Ceilidh on 21 March.
We will again mark Local and Community History Month on 7 May, when Jane Skelding, Mark Gorman and Peter Williams will share new research on the Aldersbrook and Lakehouse estates in the 20th century.
As in previous years, the Friends of St Gabriel’s have teamed up with local designer Muriel & Me to sell limited edition Aldersbrook baubles, tea towels and coasters in aid of the refurbishment work. Look out for these online and at the St Gabriel’s Christmas Market on 5 and 6 December (see page 77), where you can also buy vintage wares and Christmas goodies, taste delicious food and drinks and even meet Father Christmas!
For more information on the Friends of St Gabriel’s, visit wnstd.com/fstgab
