Expansion plans for church
A church with a thriving congregation is hoping to submit plans to extend its building at a cost of £400,000.
The Lifespring Church, on Sherwood Drive, Ollerton, has to use two rooms at the Ollerton and Boughton Town Hall next door as a meeting place for its younger members every Sunday because they are so limited by space.
The evangelical and pentecostal church has a congregation of about 150, including 25 youngsters.
Pastor Mike Phillips said they hoped to use land they owned next to the church to create a large conference and worship centre for up to 220 people.
They also want to make alterations to the front of the building to incorporate a new reception area and office as well as dividing the current hall into a community café and a smaller hall, that would be used by various community groups.
Mr Phillips said: “We are a growing church and it is full most Sundays. We want to be a church that meets the needs of the community.
“We already have groups meeting here but we don’t have enough space for what we want to do.”
He said they carried out a consultation with the congregation about the proposed extension during the summer and were now working on a master plan with an architect.
Mr Phillips said: “We received very positive feedback.”
The church is in the process of submitting applications to grant-giving organisations, including the Lottery and Wren, for the community café and community hall part of the project.
A pledge day, where the congregation will be asked to donate money or come up with fundraising ideas, will be held at the church on November 22.
Mr Phillips said they hoped to submit a planning application to Newark and Sherwood District Council in the new year.
If it goes ahead it will be the first major alteration made to the building, which was built in 1928 as a Methodist Church.
During the 1970s it was converted into a warehouse before being bought by the Dukeries Christian Fellowship in 2002.
The Dukeries Christian Fellowship and the Lifespring Community Church, joined together to form the Lifespring Church four years ago.
