Ipswich council chiefs today agreed to invite companies to tender for the £1.1 million conversion of an historic town centre church into a vibrant centre for the community.
The project, funded by Ipswich Borough Council (£400,000) and the Department for Communities & Local Government (£700,000), will breathe new life into the redundant church of St Lawrence’s and will provide a meeting venue for Ipswich’s diverse communities. Tenders will be sought during June and work is scheduled to get under way in early August and be completed by early 2008.
Councillor Judy Terry, the Borough’s Arts, Culture & Leisure portfolio-holder, said: “This is a big step forward for this landmark project and we look forward to meeting the needs of all kinds of community groups, including those representing older people. There is scope here for everyone to join in and we invite them all to get involved and help us establish a successful independent management board.”
The management board will be chaired by Richard Catherall, of the Ipswich Council for Voluntary Services.
The conversion is a complicated scheme as the medieval church is a listed building and contains many historic features. Among them are six bells believed to be the oldest in Ipswich and heard during the days of Cardinal Wolsey. A new floor will be needed and catering and toilet facilities and bespoke furniture installed.
Councillor Terry said the Council is grateful for the support shown by the Ipswich Historic Churches Trust. Since 1979, the Trust has cared for five redundant medieval churches in the town. St Lawrence’s became redundant in 1981.