Lymm Methodist Church has been transformed into an accessible, more energy-efficient church and community facility by DJL Construction.
Work at the church on Eagle Brow, in the centre of Lymm village, began in January 2026 and the historic buildings now feature a new ground-floor entrance, lobby, lift, staircase, kitchenette and accessible toilets.
As part of the church’s aim to reduce its environmental impact, it removed gas from its buildings, ended its use of fossil fuels and installed a new, highly controllable blown-air heating system. The changes are estimated to cut carbon emissions by at least 80 per cent while reducing local air pollution.
The church has also been equipped with theatre lighting to support concerts and other community events, while major internal alterations have been designed to make the building easier to use for people with limited mobility or additional access needs.
Prior to the work, more than 400 people would use Lymm Methodist Church every week through groups and activities including Scouts, Brownies, Beavers, Cubs, a community choir, yoga and Tai Chi.
The improvements have already enabled increased community use, with a day care centre now in operation several days a week. DJL’s work was also completed within the existing footprint of the buildings, making more effective use of the space while limiting the environmental impact.
Daniel Livesey, Managing Director of DJL Construction, said: “This project required careful planning and a detailed understanding of the existing two-storey building. Improved accessibility was central to the scheme, and the new entrance and lift will make a real difference to people using the church.
“It is highly rewarding to see the transformation complete and the church ready to welcome people back. The improvements will benefit the church and wider community for many years. Everyone at DJL is proud to have played a part.”
The church’s roots date back to 1840, when it began as a small Primitive Methodist chapel. Since then, it has expanded considerably, with additional buildings added in 1849, 1897 and 1968. While construction was underway, church services were held at St Peter’s Church Hall in Oughtrington, with other activities hosted at alternative venues in the village. The first service following the reopening took place in early August.
John Woodthorpe, who led the church’s work on the project, said: “The Methodist Church has long played a central part in the life of the community in Lymm. The transformation that has been achieved allows our outreach work and mission to continue in the decades ahead.
“We are delighted to have had DJL as our partners on this project. We were hugely impressed at the quality of their work, their flexibility and creativity in solving problems, and their support in ensuring that we stayed on budget.
“Through their skill, we have replaced dark, cold, pokey and difficult-to-access spaces with facilities which are light, accessible, warm and welcoming. The feedback we have received from everyone has been wonderful and is well-deserved.”
The project design and delivery team, alongside DJL Construction, included architect The Finalson Partnership, project and cost management Innov8 Development Solutions and structural engineer Bell Munro Consulting.
Carl Glover, Director at Innov8, said: “The trustees at Lymm Methodist Church had an aspirational design but a finite budget, so it was imperative that we recommended a contractor that would work collaboratively with the church and wider project team.
“From previous experience, we knew DJL would take a practical approach and find cost-effective solutions to deliver the best possible outcome within the available budget. They have done exactly that.”
