It was the news all were waiting for. The text message came at 4.16pm on a rainy, wind-swept Thursday in December 2023.  Contracts had just been exchanged for the purchase of the Methodist church.  After a 16-month campaign and a year of fund-raising, the building had finally been bought on behalf of the people of Winchcombe. 

The last hurdle to be crossed had been approval by Tewkesbury Borough Council for a change of use of the building ‘to provide a community performing arts centre.’  That came in late November.  Then it was down to lawyers to sort out the final details. And at last, the deal was done by electronic transfer.

That meant that the second phase of the venture could begin with contractors working to refurbish and upgrade the building from January.

And during 2024, the trustees will be looking for many more people to participate in the set-up and running of the centre.