Taw Hill To Have A School & Church

Abbey Meads is set to have a new combined £2 million church and 210-place primary school within two years. The Diocese of Bristol, working with the United Reformed Church, has submitted a planning application relating to the village centre in Taw Hill.

Like the Church of Christ the Servant in Abbey Meads Village Centre, the new church will serve all denominations. Although sponsored by the Church of England, the school will draw its pupils from all backgrounds.

The proposal is part of a wider development planned for Taw Hill village centre ­ developers plan to include shops and a doctors' surgery.

Diocese spokesman Stephen Oram said: "In general, there is an agreement between the main church denominations that any new buildings will be joint units.

"All the denominations are working together in new build areas to provide facilities for worship."

He added that the United Reformed Church was a main partner in this case. In the case of the Church of Christ the Servant, the Anglicans and Baptists were the main driving forces.

The news is a further boost for the town's schools, after the Government announced this week that Swindon Council could put its £60 million private finance initiative scheme out to tender.

The plan will see eight new schools built in Swindon, as well as Hreod Parkway School in Moredon being rebuilt.

The new primary school in Taw Hill is separate to this bid, funded by the Diocese of Bristol.

If planning permission is granted by Swindon Council, the new combined church and school will be built to a design by Stafford architects Horsley Huber and Associates.

The same firm is behind plans for the rest of the village centre, with its surgery and shops.

The church will have a curved end wall featuring a striking cross.

Spokesman David Freeth said: "The two buildings will be linked. "There will be a number of advantages to this. The school will have an assembly hall and the church will feature a number of meeting rooms in addition to its main area.

"There will be the opportunity for the school and the church to co-operate. At weekends when the church is in use, doors could be opened between the church and the school, adding to the space, and the school will have the advantage of the use of the church for assemblies and meetings."

Mr Freeth said that if planning permission was granted, he expected the work to be complete by September 2004.