Arts at St Mary's Church
The Arts at St
Mary’s Church reordering project is an exciting scheme to both
refurbish one of the town’s best loved historic landmarks and
increase Ashford’s arts provision.
For many years, St Mary the Virgin C of E
Church (mentioned in the Doomsday book) has functioned as both a
place of worship and a community arts venue, hosting performances
each year from local and international artists.
The Church of England has applied to carry out
substantial refurbishment work to the building’s ancient fabric,
and also wishes to sympathetically expand its use as an arts venue
to accommodate larger audiences and high-profile acts as interest
in its diverse programme of events grows with the population.
Plans include creating a more flexible
multi-use space in the body of the nave, suitable for sermons,
drama performances, concerts, exhibitions and wider community use.
There will also be improvements to the lighting, toilets and
heating, using sustainable and green techniques, more comfortable
seating and improved disabled access.
The project takes inspiration from the hugely
successful Union Chapel in Islington and St George’s Church in
Brighton, and has the full support of the church’s
congregation.
If the church application is successful, work
will be completed late 2010.
As part of Ashford’s Future’s commitment to
nurturing the town’s existing arts community, the project has been
given £1.2m of Growth Area Funding, administered by the Ashford’s
Future Board. It is also supported by Ashford Borough Council.
Ashford's Future managing director Judith
Armitt said: “Enhancing Ashford’s cultural provision and preserving
the town’s heritage are of vital importance to Ashford’s ambitious
growth plans.
“Ashford town needs a good quality venue and
vibrant arts offer, and the St. Mary’s project enables us to
provide both of these. The church already has an excellent arts
programme, and we are delighted that this funding will help it
expand while preserving the fabric of the church at the same
time.
“I hope the work we do here will pave the way
for even bigger projects in the future.”
The St Mary’s project is promoted &
supported by a wide range of stakeholders, which include community
& advisory groups, Parochial Church Council, Church Wardens,
Town Centre Partnership and statutory agencies such as the DAC,
English Heritage, Arts Council England, and Historic Churches
Trust.