25-year-old dream set to come true as building starts at city landmark church

A £200,000 building project has started on St Peter's Centre in Derby to make more room for the community projects based there.

Work began yesterday, making the 25-year dream a reality.

The Rev Paul Morris outside St Peter's, in Derby, which has been waiting 25 years to have its church centre built.

Once the centre is complete, it will be used for a wide range of activities and events, including expert debt counselling and support for the homeless.

It will also be the base for Derby City Centre Chaplaincy, which provides pastoral support for people who work in retail.

The Rev Paul Morris said: "Members of the church raised £25,000 at a recent gift day. These are days where we ask them to give just a little more than their usual donation. If they normally give £1, we ask if they can give £2.

"I told my parishioners that this would be the last time we would be asking for money towards the centre because work was starting.

"I'm so excited that work has begun and we're finally under way and can't wait to see it in use."

In total, members of St Peter's have raised £50,000 towards the project.

Veolia Environmental Trust has awarded the church a grant of £26,000, the sale of church property has raised £100,000 and the Derbyshire Community Foundation has given £1,000.

The grant from Veolia is to be used to replace a window in the hall which lets in a draught. This will improve the insulation and help the environment.

The project has also benefited from the help of Derbyshire ProHelp because it is for the wider community. ProHelp is a group of businesses that give time and advice to projects that would not usually be able to afford it. St Peter's received £4,000 worth of advice.

Mr Morris, who has been with St Peter's for nearly three years, said: "We couldn't have asked for anything more from ProHelp. We received advice from an architect firm who looked at the plans for the work and scaled them down.

"We were still getting exactly the same space, but at a more affordable rate. They said the original plans were very ambitious."

Mr Morris said: "Members of the church have wanted this new facility for so long, but it's got to a point where we need it. We need to space to offer more help and more services to members of the community."

The hall will also become the base for a home school which runs every day, keep-fit group and craft clubs.

The work on the centre is being carried out by Derwent Valley Construction, of Belper, and it is due to be finished by April 16, 2012.

The centre will be opened on June 9, by the Bishop of Derby, the Rt Rev Dr Alastair Redfern.