Jumping for Joy

A church building project in Leeds which got off to a flying start when the Vicar made a daring parachute jump, has reached its culmination with the completion of a brand new £400k Parish Centre.

Next weekend St Margaret's Church, Horsforth, will throw open its doors to celebrate  the official opening of the new eco-friendly centre, and daring vicar-turned-parachutist, the Revd Rosemary Hayes says she is thrilled and delighted by the result.  

Click the audio player below to hear John Carter's interview with Rosemary.

 The completion of the three year project will be celebrated with an open weekend on Saturday 20th and Sunday September 21st  - and, at 10am on Sunday 21st, the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, the Rt Revd John Packer, and the Lord Mayor Leeds, Councillor Frank Robinson, will officially open the brand new building, linked to the existing large gothic Victorian church by a glass corridor.   

The Parish Centre will help the church accommodate a growing number of children and young people, and can be used for church meetings and community activities. It has been designed by architects, Richard Crooks Partnership, with  meeting rooms, kitchen, disabled facilities and office space. While visually complementing the Victorian church next door, the new building incorporates the latest eco-friendly  features including ground source water for under floor heating and washing, and recycled glass bottles for high thermal insulation. Built by P.A.Whitehead of Ilkley, construction began in November 2007. The Parish Centre will be used for church meetings, children’s groups and community activities and will be available for hire for wedding receptions, baptism parties, conferences and local clubs and organisations.      

Since the Vicar's sponsored parachute jump in May 2006, a curate’s house has been sold to help towards the target, stones have been sponsored, parishioners have given substantial donations, and the church has held a variety of imaginative fundraising events from  wine tasting to sponsored walks. The Revd Hayes said, “I can hardly believe that we are finally here at our opening weekend. This beautiful building is a tribute to the host of people who have worked so hard and with amazing generosity of both time and money. Our thanks go to all those who have, in some way, made this building possible.”   

The public will be able to see the result of that hard work at an open weekend this Saturday and Sunday September 20th and 21st. The church will be open from 11am to 4pm on Saturday September 21st with an exhibition of the church past and present, refreshments  and musical entertainment.