Go ahead for new NW3 Christian centre will ‘make world better place’
This is what the architects envisage the Lighthouse will look like Picture: Nia PR - Credit: Archant
Plans for a state of the art Christian Centre in Finchley Road have received a major boost after permission was granted.
What the 450 seater auditorium may look like Picture: Nia PR - Credit: Archant
Camden councillors voted unanimously to give the go ahead for ‘The Lighthouse’, which will be built on the site of the Holy Trinity church near Finchley Road tube station.
Architects Haworth Tompkins want to create a modern six-floor centre including space for a 450-seater auditorium, recording studio, social enterprise café and an exercise studio.
The church say The Lighthouse will provide a wide range of services to respond to social need, and improve community life as well as being a place of Christian prayer and home for the worshipping community.
It is hoped that the The Lighthouse will provide a multi-dimensional facility that builds community life in the north of Camden for the 21st century and beyond.
This is what the architects envisage the Lighthouse will look like Picture: Nia PR - Credit: Archant
Andy Keighley, vicar of Holy Trinity Church said: “The church on this site was established by Rev Henry Sharpe in 1851 to serve the workers’ families building the Metropolitan Line. We believe it is vitally important to consider how we are serving this current generation and future generations to come. The Lighthouse is our response.”
The associate vicar at the Holy Trinity, Kristin Breuss believes “The Lighthouse will add much needed beauty to Finchley Road and be a place of community, sanctuary and social transformation.”
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“At a time when people are feeling increasingly unsafe, divided and isolated, I can’t think of a more important way to use land, air and money to make the world a better place,” she added.
The Lighthouse executive director, Tim Keightley said, “We are thrilled to have reached this milestone and we thank everyone who has helped us to get this far; especially our donors and supporters and the project team. We now embark on a major capital fundraising campaign for the funds to construct the building.”
The church envisage the project will cost around £11m. Before planning permission had bene granted, £3m had been raised, mostly from the Holy Trinity’s congregation. The church aim to gain half of the rest of the funds needed through the church network but are relying on public donations too.
