Birchwood Community Church

Warrington Borough Council has approved the application by Birchwood Community Church to convert the premises of the former Silver Birch pub into a church and community facility.

The premises, which will be known as the Encounter Centre, are set to inject new life into part of Birchwood that has often struggled to make an impact.

Church members are renovating the empty units and will be opening a coffee shop, a reuse centre for furniture and clothes, a meeting place for young people, a community meeting room as well as a new worship centre. Plans for an art facility are also options that the church will be considering.

The green light from Warrington Borough Council has given church members a big boost. "This is great news for us and for Birchwood" said Phil Gleave, church elder. "We are hoping that Encounter will provide something for everyone in the community. We are very excited about this development."

Watch the website for more news on how the renovation work is going in Encounter. Or call 01925 850740 if you would like to give a helping hand.