All Saints’ Parish centre designed by MAC architects Hackett and Hall
News Letter – In 2005 the members of All Saints’ Select Vestry took the bold step of planning a revamp of the suite of parochial halls which had been built in 1958. These were beginning to show signs of wear and tear, were increasingly difficult to heat and were not keeping pace with modern disability access requirements.
Archdeacon McBride’s primary degree is in architecture and he invited one of his former student colleagues, Peter Minnis, a senior architect at Todd Architects, to oversee six design schemes from some leading young practices. Hackett and Hall (designers of the MAC theatre) were awarded the commission and the new Parish Centre and its facilities have transformed the life of the parish and its parishioners, as McBride explains: “The former hall with its unwelcoming and defensive outer walls now has two-storey high glass windows, a large parish office, a worship room and a foyer which acts as a spill out area during parish concerts and events. It is now a church hall with a wow factor. The new facilities have been the catalyst for several new organisations such as the Evergreens Club, Starburst Theatre School and Slimming World. Our Rainbows and Brownies are thriving and under the guidance of the Rev Adrian Halligan and Fiona Simpson we started a Scout troop in September 2011. From a first night of nine boys and three leaders, we now have we now have over 50 beavers, cubs and scouts with a dozen leaders and helpers.”
Although All Saints’ Parish Church is more than 400-years-old, the parish and its people have a remarkably young heart, with more 40 children being baptized each year and thriving youth organisations. Archdeacon McBride added: “I hope this is a parish where we do our very best to meet the needs of all our parishioners from the youngest to the oldest of our members.”