A FIVE year £2.6 million building project at St Thomas’s Church in Lancaster will be celebrated when the Bishop of Blackburn, Rt Rev. Julian Henderson opens the new facilities this Saturday, March 12. 

'The Centre at St Thomas' Church', as it will be known, is a major step forward for the mission of the Church of England in the Lancashire city.

This page features artist's impressions of the site which is opening at the weekend. We will feature a follow up feature on this website with pictures after the weekend. 

Financed through the hard work, support and generous giving of the church family; the Hub will provide working space for both church and community groups throughout the city.

In fact the project received extra funds from the further generous giving at a crucial time at the height of the pandemic when Jon Scamman, Vicar of St. Thomas said: “I am overwhelmed by the generosity of the church congregation who pledged an additional £436,000, even in the middle of a pandemic.

"The church council voted unanimously in favour of the project going ahead and we are all excited about the services that we plan to offer from the new centre."

'The Centre at St Thomas' Church' contains a number of meeting and event rooms, catering facilities, office space for the church, and a specific lounge for young people. 

Opening its doors for the first time at 11am, there will be an opportunity for the residents and businesses of Lancaster and other supporters to view the new building; to find out about the story of its development during the pandemic; to learn about some of the activities that will be run from the centre and for the community and to see the rooms that are available to the public to rent out. 

Refreshments will be served throughout the day, and the official opening will be performed at 3pm by the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Julian Henderson. 

• If you want to drop by, St Thomas’ is located on Marton Street in the city centre, postcode LA1 1XX. 

Some background to the project

• Green Light for ambitious church plans in Lancaster city centre – click here 
• The work begins on The Centre at St Thomas’ Church project – click here