Earlestown Town Hall restoration team spreads New Year cheer with donation to local parish church
HH Smith & Sons, the contractor working to bring the town's Grade II listed Town Hall back to life, has presented St John the Baptist Church with a generous donation to support their community activities.
Article date: 16 January
The landmark regeneration forms part of a long-term programme being delivered by St Helens Borough Council and ECF - a partnership between Homes England, L&G and Muse - backed by £20m from the Government's Levelling Up Fund and £8m match funding from the council.
St John the Baptist, which is located on Market Street in Earlestown, recently celebrated its 150-year anniversary and is a focal point for the town. The church supports the local community through services including a food bank, warm spaces, bereavement and addiction support groups, a women's group, a parent toddler group, a men's group, coffee mornings and carer-and-child sessions. It also organises regular events to strengthen local pride and promote community cohesion.
The donation of £2,000 was supported by ECF and was marked with a presentation ceremony attended by Councillor Kate Groucutt, HH Smith & Sons' project manager Mike Smith and the Reverend Tim Griffiths.
Commenting on the donation, Reverend Tim Griffiths said:
"We are incredibly grateful to HH Smith & Sons and the wider project team for this generous donation. St John the Baptist Church plays an important role in supporting people across Earlestown, particularly those who are most in need, and this contribution will help us continue that work within the community. It is heartening to see those involved in the town's regeneration also giving back in such a meaningful way."
Mike Smith, Project Manager, HH Smith & Sons added:
"As a family-run business, we believe strongly in supporting the communities where we work. Earlestown Town Hall is a special building with huge local significance, and we wanted to mark our involvement in its restoration by supporting a church that does so much good for local people. We're pleased to make this donation and to play our part in helping the community during this period."
Councillor Kate Groucutt, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Business and Inclusive Growth, said:
"This donation is a wonderful example of the positive impact that regeneration can have beyond bricks and mortar. It reflects the strong partnership between the council, ECF and contractors on the ground, and shows a real commitment to supporting Earlestown's community and voluntary sector as the town continues its journey of renewal."
Matt Whiteley, senior development manager at ECF, said:
"St John the Baptist Church is at the heart of Earlestown, and the care and support it offers to groups across society makes a real difference to local people. We're proud to support this donation and to be working with partners who are genuinely committed to giving back to the community."
Main works on the restoration of Earlestown Town Hall are well underway and progressing positively. Once complete, the iconic building will include community meeting rooms, flexible workspaces and a new courtyard garden and café area (in a single storey extension), together with public toilets and a Changing Places facility. The main hall will be brought back to life as a performance and events space. The restoration is part of the wider regeneration programme that includes the transformation of the historic market square and wider public realm, with main works beginning on site in January 2026.