Building to Serve
Melksham Church is all about Making Jesus Known, and is in an exciting new season of spiritual and numerical growth.
The Building To Serve project is an opportunity to invest in our facilities to meet the growing needs of our church and community.
Project Updates:
“It is fantastic news that Melksham Parish Church have just completed the purchase of 11 Canon Square; a historic building that has been derelict in Melksham for a long time.
I know from my conversations with Rev Charlie Thomson that the Church has some excellent plans to bring the building back to life”
Michelle Donelan MP
Phase 1
To purchase & refurbish 11 Canon Square for church & community use
£492,000 cost
£447,500 secured (91%)
£44,500 current shortfall
11 Canon Square is a grade 2 listed building in the historic town centre adjacent to St Michael’s, and has been derelict for many years, leading to difficulties with squatters, anti-social behaviour and drug raids.
In November 2023 after a successful online auction, we completed the purchase of 11 Canon Square to better facilitate our ministry and community outreach.
We are looking to refurbish the derelict building to provide:
a suite of flexible meeting rooms, to be used by our growing children & youth groups, as well as by other existing and prospective local community partners
a parish office to better accommodate our growing staff team
two 1-bedroom flats to address the lack of local affordable accommodation, and to generate income for the project’s sustainability
View phase 1 plans
“11 Canon Square has become a rather depressing backdrop to the War Memorial, especially for our Remembrance Sunday parade when Canon Square welcomes so many from the community. I wholeheartedly endorse this project and I wish the church every success in restoring it for the year round benefit of the wider community.”
- Air Vice-Marshal David Couzens, Deputy Lieutenant for Wiltshire
"I once knocked down the back door of 11 Canon Square in a police drug raid - to see it become a place of healing and care for those suffering from drug addiction would be a wonderful turnaround!"
- Retired Police Officer
“It is so encouraging to see this church making such exciting plans to respond to growth, particularly the number of young families who are becoming an important part of the life of St Michael’s.”
- Patrick Wintour, chair of Friends of Wiltshire Churches
“We are so pleased to have you as our new neighbours at number 11 - we know it’s going to be a great success”
- Annie, Canon Square resident
Phase 2
To reorder St Michael’s church for the next generation
£350,000 estimated cost
£100,000 secured (29%)
£250,000 current shortfall
Melksham Church is growing!
We want to make sure the mission of our congregation is properly resourced with flexible meeting rooms, space for children and young people, accommodation for church staff, and a new parish office.
To make the church building flexible, accessible and sustainable through the provision of:
W/C and kitchen facilities
Modern heating, lighting and A/V equipment
Flexible seating
View phase 2 plans
In every century, the community has invested in the church buildings to make sure they’re ready for the next generation of Christian worship:
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New stone church building dedicated to St Michael & All Angels
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Rebuilding of the nave; new pillars and arches; addition of north & south aisles
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New side chapel; rebuilding of the north transept; larger, brighter windows; new porch, door, and parvise; construction of the tithe barn
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New church tower
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New church bells; new gallery for extra seating
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Construction of new tower at the west end; new clock; restoration of the reredos; new block floor; conversion of tithe barn into a school; new pews
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New heating and lighting; new wooden and marble internal furniture; new stone figure of St Michael; mural of the Transfiguration
We’d love to hear from you!
Click below to take part in our community consultation.
We need your help!
Donate Now:
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Click here for Parish Giving Scheme
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PCC Melksham Team Ministry - General
Sort: 30-98-75
Acc: 7181 2968
Ref: Building To ServeLloyds Bank
We are aiming to fund both phases of the Building To Serve campaign through a combination of the generosity of our Church congregation, gifts from the local community, and applications to grant making trusts and foundations.
Thank you so much for considering a one-off or regular gift.
Melksham Church receives no state or Church of England funding for the maintenance of our buildings