The Old Rectory (also known as the Parish Centre), Handsworth, Sheffield, which is located at the rear of St Mary’s Church, has been used as an important community resource for over 40 years. The Grade II listed building and its 1960’s additions, have been carefully renovated over the last few years and now provides first class facilities for a wide range of regular social and community events. These include:

• Guides
• Historical Handsworth
• Karate Classes
• Luncheon Club for the elderly
• Mother and Toddler sessions
• Salsa Dancing
• Sequence Dancing Classes
• Sequence and Modern Dance
• Sheffield 13 Brass Ensemble Rehearsals
• Smoking Cessation
• Sword dancers
• Tuesday Tea Dance
• Weightwatchers
• Yoga

The Centre is also home to the Handsworth Museum and currently provides office space for the Handsworth Community Forum, JobNet, the South American Mission Society, and St Mary’s Church Administration Team.

The Old Rectory has become a popular venue for wedding receptions and other similar celebrations as well as providing facilities for business meetings, training sessions and conferences. It can offer function/meeting rooms of various capacities, a large hall with stage, excellent on-site catering and a licensed bar. There is easy access from the M1 and the City centre, good car parking and it stands in attractive grounds with pleasant views.

The Management arrangements for the Parish Centre were fundamentally re-organised in 2002. At the initiative of Father Ian Hollin, the Rector of St Mary’s Church, the Parochial Church Council (PCC) authorised the current Centre Management Team to oversee the day to day running of the Centre and to manage the long-term planning of resources and activities. The team consists of church and non-church members.

The Centre Management Team produced its first Business Plan in April 2004, which included the following Mission Statement:

• To provide and continually improve an excellent and affordable facility for the benefit of the whole community.

This was supported by the following Strategic Aims:

• To contribute to and facilitate the development of the activities and the capacity of the Handsworth community,
• To provide a place where Handsworth community groups can meet and carry out their activities,
• To provide facilities for private individuals in the Sheffield area for social gatherings eg. wedding receptions,
• To provide facilities where local businesses in the community can hold meetings, seminars and training events,
• To preserve and improve the fabric of the listed building and to ensure its continued existence.

Room hire fees are designed to be both competitive and affordable and are as follows.

ROOM HIRE FEES 2007

MAIN HALL (Capacity 150 people)

Up to 1 hour £30

Thereafter p/h £24

Maximum daily charge £300

BALLIFIELD ROOM (Capacity 30 - 35 people)

Up to 1 Hour £19

Thereafter p/h £16

FINCHWELL ROOM (Capacity 20 people)

Up to 1 HOUR £16

Thereater p/h £14

BRAMLEY ROOM (Capacity 15 people)

Up to 1 Hour £14

Thereafter p/h £12

NUNNERY WING (Capacity 40 people)

Up to 1 Hour £19

Thereafter p/h £16

Maximum room capacities are as follows:

Main Hall - 150

Ballifield - 35

Finchwell - 20

Bramley - 15

Nunnery Wing - 40.

We can provide OHP, Flipcharts, Powerpoint, and Screens.

Details of menu costs, wedding packages and other customer requirements are available on request.

For further information about the Parish Centre, bookings or regular events, please contact, Anne Palmer on 0114 269 2537, e-mail admin@oldrectoryhandsworth.org.uk, or visit the website at http://www.oldrectoryhandsworth.org.uk.

David Palmer
Old Rectory Management Team