A group of about 30 invited guests, including the Mayor of Ross-on-Wye, learned about the plans for turning the rather tired building, which houses Christ Church, into a significant structure which can be seen from different angles around the town.

Architect Piers Taylor (well known for BBC 100K homes) and his InvisibleStudio colleague, Kate Darby, shared the ideas with members of the working group. The congregation at Christ Church, in Edde Cross Street, want to transform their building into a more attractive space, which will used by more people in the town.

The Reverend Deborah Cornish told the meeting that they could continue to use what the church has, which is not very satisfactory, but improvements and maintenance could lead to them spending about £600,000 without really solving the problems. They were looking for a more long term radical solution.

Piers explained that they have looked at reconfiguring the space so that it provides a more useful area. He said:?“We are very aware that this is an AONB and a Conservation Area but we also have to think about what it means to be a church in the 21st century.”

The congregation working party want their mission to shape the building using their watchword, NEST – which stands for nurture, everyone, spirituality and transformation. Piers explained that they want to work with the community but never forget they are still a church. He said the building is part of a terraced street and visually prominent but it is very modest on its site. He said that the church could have more presence and the garden area does not really contribute to the street or to the church and that the entrance is not very welcoming.

He explained that the group would need to work with the Local Authority to try to gain access from the New Street car park which would mean they could have a new entrance.

The church would be set out to allow light in, around a central glazed area, and would be finished in the type of durable materials already found in Ross.

It would be larger with more impact and be more environmentally friendly to keep costs down.

A fundraising programme will begin in January and the group realises that although their dream building comes at a significant cost this is a long term project and they expect it to take several years.