PLANS to extend a Purbrook church have been modified after concern from local residents.

Worshippers at St John’s Church originally proposed plans for an extension that would create more room in the Victorian building for worshippers – and a new meeting room to be built in part of the current graveyard.  

This would help the church offer its facilities to community groups for concerts, plays and events, helping its drive to remain at the heart of the Purbrook community. The meeting room could also be used for ‘Kidzone’ during Sunday services, for refreshments after monthly parent-and-toddler services, or by study groups.

Replacing the church’s fixed pews with new chairs would also make the main building more flexible for café-style ‘Fresh Expressions’ worship, smaller more reflective services, and Morning and Evening Prayer.

There were complaints that the extension would be close to plots in the cemetery where ashes had been interred. Now the plans have been altered so any meeting room would be built further away from those plots. Concerned residents were invited to a meeting to discuss the new plans, and were broadly satisfied with what was being proposed.

Havant Borough Council will consider the plans on Thursday (Oct 26). An artist's impression of what the new extension might look like is below:

The vicar, the Rev Karen Schmidt, said: “When we originally drew up these proposals, we stressed that we wouldn’t want to build on any areas where ashes had been spread. We also made it clear that the builders should be incredibly careful about not standing on such plots as they work on any extension.

“However, local residents expressed their concerns that those plots may still be affected by this work, however careful the builders are. We’ve listened to those concerns and altered our plans accordingly. That’s why we consulted with residents very carefully before taking this any further.

“These plans will help us make the church the focal point of the community. We already have a newly-refurbished parish hall that is in regular use during the week by a pre-school group, nursery and uniformed organisations. This will help us offer another meeting room and the church itself as a place where other groups can meet.”

The church was originally built in 1858, when Purbrook was a village of 150 people. Not only is it now much larger, but there are plans to build around 2,000 new homes to the west of Waterlooville. The extension plans will help cater for the increased population as well as more flexible usage.

Moving the north wall and its stained glass windows six feet to the north will make the nave symmetrical. The plan is also to create a nave altar, with chairs placed in a semi-circle around it, to install a new floor, new lighting and a new PA system, to move the font and to create proper disabled access.

Worshippers would reach the new meeting room via a corridor from the north door. It would have enough space for 20 people and would include a kitchen and toilets.

The work may cost around £600,000, but it hasn’t been fully costed yet. Most of the money is already available, but the congregation will be asked to raise £80,000. If approved by Havant Borough Council, the parish would hope to start work in late autumn and complete it by next July.

The church then plans to hold a week of celebratory activities in the church, including a jazz evening, a mandolin concert, an exhibition of Purbrook history, a workshop for schoolchildren and a service at which the new worship area would be consecrated.