We are currently fundraising towards the £50,000 needed to add a toilet and refreshment preparation area to Eaton church to make it into a community hub.

There is no village hall, pub, shop or other indoor community space in the village. Despite this there is an energetic community which organises events such as open gardens, village bonfire, barbecues, harvest suppers and coffee mornings, which also attract people from Retford and surrounding villages. Currently, village meetings and indoor events are held in private homes which isn’t ideal.

The vision is to provide this vibrant and active rural community with a much needed community space by adapting the church, the only public building in the village. Pews to the rear of the church will be removed and a toilet and refreshment preparation area added.

As a more usable community space, the church will become the hub for village events, meetings, clubs and social activities whilst still being used for worship. It will be used by people of all ages to promote community cohesion and address rural issues such as isolation. It will also encourage newcomers to the village to feel welcome and involved, and will enable us to offer hospitality to the many visitors to our beautiful village, including the many walkers, cyclists and swimmers. The proposal will also make the church more usable by the local CofE primary school and more accommodating for worshippers.

Fully costed plans have been prepared, planning permission has been granted and approval received from the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham. The community is busy fundraising and applying for grants.

Look out for fundraising events and find out more at www.facebook.com/allsaintseatonandgamston and www.twitter.com/all_eaton