Success for Woodhouse Community Theatre project as enough raised to buy historic Sheffield church site
“This milestone gives us the chance to save a huge part of our community’s history and start a brand-new chapter for Woodhouse’s future”
A project to breathe new life into an abandoned Sheffield church by turning it into a community space has reached a fundraising milestone with organisers now having enough cash to buy the building.
Over the past five month people have donated £40,000 to the Woodhouse Community Theatre project, with the masterminds behind the project now ready to take the next steps.
Organised by the Woodhouse and District Community Forum (WDCF) and Darnall Musical Theatre Company (DMTC), the project would see the derelict Trinity Methodist Church on Chapel Street converted into a community space for the arts.
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The funds raised, combined with a £25,000 donation from the buildings owner and a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) grant from Sheffield City Council means that they have raised the £125,000 sale price of the grade II listed building.
“This is an extraordinary moment for the project,” said Jack Taylor, chairman of Woodhouse and District Community Forum and Darnall Musical Theatre Company.
“Our community has worked so hard to raise £40,000 in just five months, and the funding approved by our Woodhouse ward councillors means we can now move towards purchasing Trinity.
“This milestone gives us the chance to save a huge part of our community’s history and start a brand-new chapter for Woodhouse’s future.”
The vision is for the building to become a welcoming, flexible venue for theatre productions, live music, arts activities and community events.
Plans include a performance area, improved access, toilets and spaces that could be used by a wide range of local groups and organisations.
The project has received vocal support form all three of the ward councillors.
Labour councillors Mick Rooney and Alison Norris celebrated the latest announcement, adding: “We have been working on getting a constructive use for Trinity Methodist Church since 2023.
“Residents made it clear in the “Putting the Heart back in Woodhouse” consultation that a big priority is regenerating the village centre.
“This is a big step forward, not just for one building but the whole village. It just shows what we can do when councillors, community groups, businesses and local people work together.
“We know it’s step one and there is a lot of work still to be done, but it’s so worth doing. Come along and get involved.”
Independent Nathaniel Menday echoed this, going on to say: “I am delighted that the Woodhouse community theatre project will be going ahead, this is such a positive project not just for Woodhouse, Handsworth or other surrounding areas, but for the whole of Sheffield, providing vital and versatile events space to be enjoyed by people from miles around.
“Its primary use of being a theatre is so apt, when I first entered the building, I was struck not only by its history and beauty but by the layout and its unique second tier - it was as if it was built for this purpose.
“The idea to turn this into a fully functioning theatre and event space is a masterstroke and I cant wait to see the day that this neglected building is returned to its former glory. I commend Jack and the team for all their hard work, and the hard work yet to come, as well as all the good people who have donated to this wonderful project.”