Ahead of its 200th birthday, one Island church is looking to bring its building into the 21st century.
St James’s Church, on Market Street, Ryde, wants to upgrade its home in a major regeneration project.
Plans have been submitted to the Isle of Wight Council to overhaul the interior of the Grade II listed building, as well as adding solar panels to the roof.
The plans would see an increase in the the size of the residential apartment, a coffee ‘drop-in’ area added and a lift to allow better access.
The work is hoped to be done over the next few years, in time for the church’s 200th anniversary in 2027.
It could also see the removal of box pews on the ground floor, to create a large multi-purpose meeting space.
However, previous attempts to update the church, dating back to 2013, had been thwarted following negative feedback from the Diocese of Portsmouth and other external consultees.
Planning documents submitted by John Quinlan Architect on behalf of the church, said the main reason the project had not gone ahead so far was objections unless all other avenues had been explored.
The documents say the building has a lot of space that may not be laid out in a way that best meets the needs of the current users.
The box pews, Mr Quinlan says, restrict the capacity and its growing congregation puts increasing pressure on the infrastructure. However, pews would remain on the balcony.
In 2020, the church voted to leave the Church of England and join the Anglican Mission in England and documents say this has been a key feature of bringing forward the planning application.
The move means the church trustees can now independently manage the building and its finances without the need to consult the Diocese of Portsmouth.
The church said it is keen to work with heritage societies to find a way forward which can accommodate any concerns while also giving the congregations its desired outcome.
One commenter has said the proposal will ensure the building is fit for purpose in the 21st century.
You can view the plans, 22/00782/FUL and 22/00783/LBC, on the Isle of Wight Council’s planning register. Comments can be submitted until June 21.
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