Work is underway to give Wicken Methodist Church a new lease of life through renovation works.

The building work, which started last month, will create space which is more appropriate for Wicken Youth Club and the long established Sunday Teas in the village.

The project, which is being funded by a £35,137 grant from WREN’S FCC Community Action Fund, will provide new kitchen facilities, an accessible toilet and nappy change, along with rewiring and modernisation once it is open at the end of February next year.

Wicken is not on the public transport network and has no school or post office, and therefore the youth club and other community activities are vital in sustaining this rural community.

Wicken Methodist Church’s ‘Come On In’ project is a step closer now that the pews are out and the builders are in at North Street.

Reverend Colin Watkins, the Superintendent Minister of the Methodist Church in Ely and Newmarket, is excited that the project is starting to take shape. He says: “It’s great to see our vision for the church moving closer to reality. We are extremely grateful for the funding WREN has given us and we’re looking forward to opening to the public.”

WREN is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community, conservation and heritage projects from funds donated by FCC Environment through the Landfill Communities Fund. Sarah Gosling, WREN’s Grant Manager for Cambridgeshire says: “It’s always nice to see something we’ve put funding towards, start to take shape. We’re delighted to be able to support this refurbishment project of the community space at the church, and look forward to it benefitting families both in Wicken and further afield.”

The project should be completed in the New Year, with a reopening event planned for the February 27.