A campaign has been launched to help equip a Methodist church as part of its conversion into a community and concert center.
The Wesley Centre in Malton, built in 1811, is currently undergoing a two million pound restoration after the centre was at risk of being permanently closed due to the discovery of structural problems.
A fundraising appeal for a further £50,000 has now been launched to fund the purchase of bespoke, hand-crafted furniture by a company in North Yorkshire.
Plans for the conversion of the building include a 600-seat classical concert hall and a community café.
Designed by renowned architect Reverend William Jenkins, the building is the fourth oldest of only 41 listed Methodist church buildings remaining in the UK.
When significant structural defects were discovered in the roof in 2015, the building was threatened with closure. The building was subsequently put up for sale twice, but no buyer was found.
Following a consultation on the lack of community spaces in Malton, a plan was drawn up to transform the centre into a space that benefits the wider community.
In addition to a concert hall and café, the centre will also house the Malton Free Fridge Project, a food bank that supports 30,000 people each year.
Regular Sunday services will also continue.
The restoration work to date, including roof repairs, has been funded by the Methodist Church of Great Britain, as well as government grants, private donations and some loans.
The new £50,000 fundraiser will fund bespoke traditional furniture to fit the building, commissioned from traditional furniture makers Treske of Thirsk.
These include 250 chairs in the style of those used in cathedrals and other places of worship, as well as dark red leather kneelers and a communion table.
Paul Emberley, project manager for the Wesley Centre, said: “Conservationists nearby say this building is very special and of national importance.
“But it was about more than just saving the building, it was also about the community.”
The Malton Wesley Centre will fully reopen its restored main hall in November.
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