A £50,000 grant has helped complete a major phase of work to transform Winchcombe’s former Methodist Church into a new arts, youth and community venue known as Isbourne Arts.
The historic church, located in the heart of Winchcombe near Cheltenham, was put up for sale in 2023. In response, local residents came together to raise funds to purchase the building and give it a new lease of life as a vibrant community hub.
A newly formed charity, Winchcombe Arts and Community Hub (WACH), was established to lead the ambitious project, which aims to purchase, repair, restore and upgrade the building for community use.
Funding from Enovert Community Trust (ECT), provided through the Landfill Communities Fund, has proved crucial to the project’s progress. The grant has paid for widening fire exits to meet safety regulations, installing secondary glazing to the large north-facing stained glass window, completing the first phase of improvements to the downstairs studio, and preparing the venue for its newly launched film screening programme.
Lucy McCall, a trustee of WACH, said the funding had been “key” to the transformation of the building.
“The grant from Enovert Community Trust has been vital in helping us turn the former Methodist Church into Isbourne Arts – a vibrant, multi-purpose arts and community hub right in the middle of Winchcombe,” she said.
“Donations from the Winchcombe community, together with the ECT grant, provided all the match funding for the government grants we secured to buy and renovate the building. The grant has also paid for the first phase of work to improve our downstairs studio and for all the fit-out costs associated with our new screening programme, which has been made possible by a very generous donation from a local resident to purchase a projector.
“We have also recently received very welcome funding news from Winchcombe Town Council and another generous local resident, which means we will now be able to complete the remaining work, open the downstairs studio in the spring and get the whole place looking fantastic.”
Isbourne Arts first opened its doors to the public in August 2024 and has already become an important part of local community life. The venue hosts a busy programme of live performances including music, drama and dance, alongside creative workshops, community collaborations and monthly farmers’ markets.
The downstairs studio will offer further opportunities for artists and makers, small-scale productions, informal events and community gatherings.
Angela Haymonds, Trust Manager of Enovert Community Trust, said the project was one the trustees were proud to support.
“The Winchcombe Arts and Community Hub is a visionary and ambitious project, and the Trustees were delighted to provide a grant to support the restoration of the building,” she said. “The project will increase local participation in community life and provide a safe indoor space for young people to relax and engage in creative activities. We are very excited to see the vision becoming a reality.”
Winchcombe Arts and Community Hub is located around six miles from Enovert’s Wingmoor Farm Landfill Site. For more information about Enovert Community Trust, contact Angela Haymonds on 01753 582513, email ahaymonds@enovertct.org, or visit www.enovertct.org.