Archdeacon opens new meeting place at church

A new building for events and meetings for members of Whittington’s parish church has been opened.

The official opening for the Elizabethan Room next to St Philip and St James Church was carried out by the Archdeacon of Worcester, Robert Jones.

Dozens of worshippers turned out for the event, which was preceded by a short service in the church and followed by a tea.

The new brick building replaces a former mobile building, which had been used for 20 years on the same site.

A defibrillator, given to the church by Eileen Warner, has been installed on the wall of the new building.

Work on the surroundings of the hall, including establishing grass, was still to be completed.

Efforts to replace the mobile building have taken 10 years, since the planning authorities said it needed to be removed.

The project cost £160,000, funded by grants secured by supporters of the church.

The hall, which is bigger than the one it replaced, will be run by the church and enable events connected with the church to be hosted.