The Bolton News
Gayle McBain
23/02/2008

A SPECIAL event is being held to teach people to keep old buildings in Bolton in good working order.

The free training day, which aims to help people from all communities to take care of the buildings they worship in, is being held at the All Souls Church and the Astley Street Community Centre.

The idea behind the scheme is to help Britain keep its historic buildings in good shape for future generations to enjoy and to encourage people to become actively involved in their local community's heritage.

The £850,000 initiative, organised by conservation charity The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, has won support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage and plans to bring practical, helpful information to those at the sharp end of maintenance.

All Souls is a Grade II listed building in the heart of Bolton's Crompton Ward.

It was built between 1878 and 1881 and, although it is not used for services today, it is a major feature of the area.
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The training day on Wednesday, April 2 starts at 10am and participants will visit the church - which is in Astley Street, Halliwell - to see, first-hand, how old buildings can be maintained properly.

Over the past two years a group of local people have been working closely with The Churches Conservation Trust to look at how All Souls can be brought into use, meeting the present needs of the community while retaining the significant elements of the building. They hope to be able to open the church as a community centre for people of all faiths to enjoy.

Project manager for All Souls Crompton Community Centre, Inayat Omarji, said the community intended keeping the name, All Souls, in the title.

He said: "It explains what we are doing perfectly. This project is for everyone.

"We want to redevelop the church as a community centre and open it up as a one stop shop for the local community."

An open day will also be held on Saturday March 08, between 12 noon and 4pm, for people to have a look at the plans for the church.

Mr Omarji said: "In Bolton we have a large number of historic buildings used as churches, temples, mosques and community centres.

"This is a great opportunity to increase awareness and understanding of how to delicately and effectively manage the maintenance of these buildings.

"The day will also bring together people from different communities and faiths - all volunteers working to save our historic buildings. It's going to be an interesting and informative event."

Article from the The Bolton News.