St Peter’s has been offered a grant of £1500 from the Hampshire and the Islands Historic Churches Trust towards the cost of creating wheelchair access through our Southampton Chapel doorway.
St Peter’s will receive the grant once the work is completed. The doorway change is part of a plan by St Peter’s to create the church into a heritage centre. The new doorway will provide unhindered access into the church, which is not currently possible through main west entrance. The development of the church as heritage centre which probably dates from the eight century and is probably one of the ten oldest church’s in the country, will show how St Peter’s has played an active part in the social, economic and political development of the area and the nation.
The Hampshire and the Islands Historic Churches Trust (http://www.hihct.org.uk) is a non-denominational charity, which raises funds towards the upkeep of some 900 historic church buildings dating from the 8th to the 20th century. The Trust raises funds by subscriptions, donations and fund raising events such as their annual Ride and Stride day, which this year is on Saturday 12 September.