A GOLDEN Valley church will offer the community more than most after being given a £100,000 grant.

The funding from West Midlands Regeneration Zone will see St Peter’s Church in Peterchurch diversify its services and a new library and kitchen built, along with meeting rooms and toilets.

The £400,000 project has already been boosted by a £255,000 grant from Herefordshire Council.

“The new centre will provide services not just for Peterchurch but the whole of the beautiful Golden Valley,”

said Enid Tarbox, secretary of St Peter’s Parochial Church Council.

“Despite this radical change, St Peter’s will very much remain a place of worship and we hope the community will embrace the church more closely after the centre is open and fully operational.”

Matt Smith, Rural Regeneration Zone Partnerships manager, said: “There are other multi-use facilities being developed in the zone but I think it’s fair to say this is the most imaginative and unusual.

“Transforming part of a church – and a church that is so historically significant – is a tremendous way to not only open up services to the community, but also ensure it remains viable.”