It’s almost ready, but a new purpose-built community centre needs a little help to see it over the line.

The St Faith’s Centre on the corner of Chatham Road and Moncktons Lane at Ringlestone will perform the dual role of community centre for the residents of Springfield and Maidstone, and of a replacement church for the congregation of the former St Faith’s Church in Maidstone.

The centre replaces the church hall that had stood on the corner since 1935 but was demolished in October 2021.

St Faith’s Church building itself has been sold to another congregation.

The new centre has been in the planning since 2013 and is finally due to open fully in July.

The £1.6m project has been financed with Section 106 money from housing developers, the proceeds of the sale of the old church sale, some grants and £150,000 raised by the congregation.

But a further £20k is need to complete the project which will provide accommodation for a nursery, pre-school, holiday clubs, cafe, and from September an after-school club.

The project team have launched a crowd-funding site and also secured a promise from the Aviva Insurance company that it will match-fund every donation made.

Supporters have already taken them over half-way there, but the remaining £9,000 must be raised by May 26.

To make a donation visit here.

The money is needed principally to pay for zero-carbon features such as solar panels on the roof to keep down the cost of running the building once it is completed.