A CHURCH is looking for £450,000 to rebuild a popular, but crumbling community hall.

St George’s Community Hall, in Rushbottom Lane, Thundersley, has been repeatedly patched up over the past 50 years to keep it going.

The roof and floor are now in such a poor state demolition now seems the most economic option for the mainly-wooden structure.

The church has asked architects to draw up plans for a new hall, which could cost as much as £450,000.

The Rev Anthony Rose, vicar of St George’s, said: “The hall has become too expensive to keep on repairing.

“It will be condemned one day, which is worrying, because it is extremely popular with community groups.

“A replacement building would cost a lot of money, but we’re hoping to secure grants for a proportion of it. Still, we will have to raise some of the funds ourselves.”

The hall is used by many organisations including Brownies, Guides, Beavers, Scouts, dance groups, amateur dramatics societies, karate, camera, seniors’ and wives’ clubs, and the Townswomen’s Guild.

The wooden building originally stood near Cemetery Corner, in Benfleet High Street, where it was put up for use as an officers’ mess during the Second World War.

The church bought it from the Ministry of Defence in 1958 and parishioners reassembled it on its current site.

Mr Rose said: “It was used as a temporary place of worship while St George’s Church was being rebuilt, then as a community hall after the main church re-opened in 1964.

“It was only ever supposed to be temporary, but has been kept going all this time.

“The time has now come to move on.”

Fundraising is under way with events already planned including a three-course dinner in the hall, on June 26, and a summer fair on July 2.

If you would like to help the fundraising effort, call 01268 792088.