Over one thousand people took up an invitation to see inside Ely’s St Mary’s Church when the doors opened for the first time after its transformation.
The “open doors” event on Sunday 27th November from 11am-4pm attracted people from all over the city and beyond.
“We hoped people would come along, take a look and Imagine how their group or organisation might like to use St Mary’s and we were delighted that so many came and were so excited and positive about what they saw,” said the Rector, the Rev Chris Hill.
“The building has become the beautiful, accessible, sustainable, flexible and functional space we’d hoped for. We want St Mary’s to be open not just for Sunday services but the hub of the Ely community for use seven days a week,” said Chris.
The Grade 1 Listed building which dates back 800 years, has been closed for nearly a year as a team of specialist builders and engineers worked inside.
The floor has been levelled and a stone floor laid with underfloor heating. Air source heat pumps will reduce the building’s carbon footprint and secondary heating, new lighting, electrics and audio visual equipment have been installed.
A “Sing Together” Dementia Choir community event was held on Saturday 3rd December and Ely Choral Society will stage their Christmas Carols for All concert on Saturday 10th December at 7.30pm.
A service to which everyone involved in the building transformation project has been invited will be held on Thursday 8th December.
The congregation returns to St Mary’s for a celebratory united first service on Sunday 11th December at 10am.
Press release from St Mary’s Church, Ely
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