New parish hall for 'thriving' church in Malmesbury

A new parish hall in Malmesbury is a step closer after plans to demolish old church buildings were approved.

Wiltshire Council agreed outbuildings in the courtyard at St Aldhelm's Church were no longer "fit for purpose".

The new facility will offer modern facilities for parish, pastoral and social activities, and serve as a community outreach base.

Councillors agreed the plans respected the historically significant features of the buildings.

The planning application noted: "St Aldhelm's RC Church has a thriving church community, growing in numbers, which would benefit from a purpose-built venue for additional functions outside of worship services."

It added: "A new parish hall with modern facilities would enable the church congregation to meet in large and small groups, and also welcome visitors from the wider community of Malmesbury to enjoy social activities on a regular basis.

St Aldhelm's Church in Cross Hayes Lane was opened in 1875. The site, including Cross Hayes House, was sold to the Diocese of Clifton in the 1860s in order to establish a Roman Catholic Mission in Malmesbury.

The outbuildings earmarked for demolition are on the north side of the courtyard.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service they were converted from school lavatories into garages and a parish meeting room in the sixties.

But the fabric of the buildings is deteriorating and they lack modern standards of insulation, heating and other services.

The new buildings will offer space for around 60 seats, a modern kitchen and two accessible toilets.

The application concluded: "The new building respects the historically significant features and settings of the church, the presbytery, the stone boundary wall, and also the more extensive streetscape of Cross Hayes itself."

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.