The barn can only currently be used in summer

A DILAPIDATED 125-year-old community space in Finsbury Park will be brought back from the brink of collapse thanks to a new refurbishment project.

The hall at St Saviour’s Church is currently only usable in the summer months due to water running down its walls and a constant draught. It’s known by locals as “the barn”.

Now its distinctive gambrel roof will be replaced to stop heat getting out and water getting in.

The work will be funded by a £100,000 grant from City Bridge Foundation.

It will be the first stage in an ambitious £495,000 revamp of the hall, which is based in Hanley Road, with solar panels and energy-saving heat pumps also planned for the future.

Giles Shilson, City Bridge Foundation chairman, said: “For generations, the hall has been a huge asset not just to the church but to the community of Finsbury Park.

“This funding will not only help bring it back to life but will also make the building more energy efficient, saving money and reducing the church’s carbon footprint.”

The hall was built in 1899 with money raised by the congregation. It originally served under-privileged parishioners and housed a Sunday school for working children, clothing clubs and a penny bank – a savings bank for those without the means to open a regular account.

Over the years it served as a theatre, gym and a venue for weddings, birthdays and celebrating life events in the community.

Dan Allwood, St Saviour’s operations manager, said: “This funding is hugely important to us, and will allow us to open up the space to the whole community.

“Our vision for the space is for it to host activities like a community cafe and events such as gigs, community theatre and dance classes.

“It will also be really important in making us more sustainable – the community hall has been around for 125 years and we want it to be used by generations to come.”

Over three years City Bridge Foundation awarded £5.9million to projects to improve the environment or address climate change, including those which tackle poor air quality, boost open spaces or promote biodiversity.