Service provides a first sight of Glasgow church improvements

Ibrox Parish Church reopened yesterday to let the congregation and community get a first look at the changes which will benefit both the kirk and wider area.

The Glasgow church has undergone extensive refurbishment, which includes the creation of a multifunctional worship space, a modern kitchen and café area, two new breakout rooms and the opening of an accessible storage area for Glasgow Southwest foodbank.

Yesterday's morning service allowed the congregation to see the transformed church for the first time, with a community open house to introduce the changes to local people and partner groups.

Rev Tara Porr Granados said the renovation work had been much needed at the church.

"Our building, while heavily used, had become a patchwork of temporary and partial repairs and was still operating on nearly antique electrical, plumbing and heating systems," she said.

The renovation work prioritised internal, functional improvements which will allow the church to reduce ongoing running costs to sustainable levels.

These included replacing the boiler, updating electrical and plumbing systems, and adding insulation and double glazing to the windows to reduce heat loss.

The café area has been expanded and the kitchen modernised, while the stage, which has hosted many pantos and other productions over the years, has been replaced by the two breakout rooms and an improved storage area for Glasgow Southwest Foodbank, which began as a mission of the church.

Affordable space for all the community

Mrs Granados added: "Our previous stage hall has been changed into a multifunctional space that can be used for everything from worship, to taekwondo, to Girl Guides, to Boys' Brigade board meetings. Before this refurbishment our building was in use seven days a week, and we hope that these improvements will mean usable and affordable community space for many years to come."

Funding for the refurbishment came from the Church of Scotland General Trustees, the Baird Trust, Ferguson Bequest Fund, Beatrice Laing Trust, Bellahouston Bequest Fund, Joseph Rank Trust, Benefact Trust, Garfield Weston and Govan Participatory Budgeting, as well as the members of Ibrox Parish Church.

Mrs Granados also praised the contribution of Gary MacFarlane of Designed to Succeed, which she described as being absolutely critical to the success of the project.

"Gary MacFarlane, along with Roger Fleming and Iain A B Cavin, advise churches free of charge on how to develop and see through projects like this," she explained.

The refurbishment programme is set to continue with improvements to the church's toilet facilities later this year.