Pagham church plan to include apartments

The congregation of St Ninian's United Reformed Church have devised a 2m scheme which will combine services, community uses and flats in an eye-catching round building.

Based on a Martello tower, the structure will be 3.5 storeys high to be roughly equal to the height of the area's highest building, nearby Nyetimber Mill further north along Pagham Road, and slightly taller than the adjoining village hall.

The new church will be sunk below ground to provide room for 75 people to pray. It could also be used as a meeting place. It is intended to replace the current church hall, booked solid for meetings, and its small manse.

On top, will be six two-bedroom and three one-bedroom flats over three floors and surrounded by landscaped grounds. The present church will become a new hall with room for some 150 people.

The proposals were put on public display for the first time at the church last Saturday. Some 50 people attended. A planning application for the redevelopment is expected to be submitted in the next two months for Arun Distict Council to decide. If it is approved, work could begin on the Pagham Road site next year.

Church member and Pagham resident Meyrick Griffiths said: 'I think it is an excellent plan. The new building is quite impressive. It will serve the church better than the buildings which are here now.'

St Ninian's is more than 40 years old. A foundation stone in the church is dated December 14, 1965. But the church currently attracts just 20 people to its Sunday service. They are struggling to afford to repair the buildings.

Its minister, the Rev John Gordon, joined with the URC agency '“ One Church, 100 Uses '“ to devise a solution over 18 months which would maintain the church's presence in the parish for centuries.

One Church, 100 Uses director and national church regeneration expert Lord Andrew Mawson said: 'Our aim is to create a high quality building which will last hundreds of years and be a landmark.

'The landscape around here is fantastically beautiful. We need a building that will enhance that. We chose a Martello tower because its curved shape will make it look smaller than it is.

'You will still be able to see across into the fields and landscape beyond from Pagham Road.

'We want to create an original building for Pagham which will enhance the quality of Pagham as a place. By cladding the tower in traditional flint, it will soon look as if it's been here for 200 years.

'We need to have a building which is sustainable. Congregations are going to be smaller and, if they are going to continue to serve the community, they need to have a building which will survive.'

Mr Gordon said: 'It has been an encouraging morning. A lot of neighbours have been in to look at the presentation. Hopefully, we have dispelled a few concerns that people had. People have been encouraged by the professionalism and the quality of the work that we have done as a church.

'We have thrown our heart and soul into this to make sure we have a building in Pagham of which everyone can be proud.'

A smaller version of the exhibition is on display in the church lobby until Easter. There is the chance to comment about the plan.