MEMBERS of Pickering Methodist Church are urging people to support a final push towards their fundraising target to redevelop the building.

Plans were put forward three years ago to refurbish the 131-year-old church, which is a Grade II listed building, to increase its use for weekday events for both the congregation and the wider community.

Rev Ruth Duck, vicar of the church, said that in the last three years they had raised more than 90 per cent of the project cost of £608,000.

“The funding has come from the Methodist Church of Great Britain, third party funders and from our own local fundraising efforts,” she said.

“We are now asking the community to help us raise the last £25,000 so that we can get the work started in January.

“Pickering Methodist Church has served the spiritual and community needs of the area for generations.

“While acknowledging a long and proud history and traditions which have served us well in the past, we need to explore new ways of serving the ever increasing needs of the community.

“We are interacting more with the community, encouraging and building links with local organisations both outside and within our buildings.

“We currently provide space and facilities for a daily playgroup, the Ryedale Food Bank, Rainbows, Brownies and Guides and many others.”

She added: “As the town grows so does the demand on community space. Our building is now being used to capacity and we are increasingly having to turn down requests for venue space.

“Because of the current design of the main hall, kitchen and meeting room we can only hold one event at a time.”

Rev Duck said their plan was to redesign the non-worship area to provide a modern facility with new toilets and a separate meeting room.

“Our aim is to develop a space in which all the people of Pickering will feel keen to share with us, by providing more space for more occasions we will be able to get more people through our door,” she said.

“We want all sections of the community to benefit and it is wonderful to see some of this already happening at some of the fundraising events where friends have reunited after many years.

“The target is now within reach and we are exploring innovative ideas to raise the rest of the funds we need and we ask that church members and the wider community get involved.

“This project will benefit the whole community – please do what you can to help us make it a reality.”

To make a donation, go to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/pmc19

For more information on the project, go to pickeringmethodistchurch.co.uk/redevelopment-project/