COMMUNITY campaigners are working with a city centre church on plans to turn its building into a hub for charities and voluntary groups.

The Hungate Community Development Trust has been talking to churchgoers at the Central Methodist Church about how the church's 21,500 sq ft of floor space could be put to good use for the community.

Gordon Campbell-Thomas, who is chairman of Hungate Community Development Trust, said he hoped the scheme would help reinvigorate the area, and the wider city.

He said: “Together HCDT and the Central Methodist Church can provide a range of community activities in partnership."

The St Saviourgate church was built in 1840 with a capacity of about 1,500, but now welcomes about 50 worshippers each Sunday. Rather than close the building, the congregation is instead beginning a consultation and survey with people in the city centre Guildhall ward to find out if the space can be used by the community.

Project manager Richard Ramsden said the building, which spreads over three floors, is already in use by the Kyra Women's Project, and Salvation Army teams who work with homeless people in York, as well as choirs and school groups, but has more potential.

The project, called Transforming Central has the support for the York Methodist circuit, who want to keep up a presence in the city centre and have set aside around £60,000 from the sale of another property in the city to fund some of the work, Richard said.

He said: "We have found there is a lack of community space in the city centre.

"We want the church building to be used seven days a week."

Hungate Community Development Trust was set up to be a focus for delivery of a variety of community activities around the redeveloped Hungate site.

The Hungate Community Development Trust meeting will be held at Central Methodist Church, St Saviourgate, Saturday, June 27, between 11am-1pm. Non members welcome, contact Gordon Campbell-Thomas on 07794706961 or email gordonct@gmail.com for details.