The restoration and revitalisation of St Andrew the Less, carefully mindful of the needs of our community, will redefine our area as a cultural and economic centre, positioning our neighbourhood as a key part of Cambridge’s historical story. The deconsecrated church will be central to addressing the three core elements of our project: Heritage, Community and Environment. We will do this by creating projects around community and belonging and linking up local heritage and biodiversity sites, resulting in significant social impact.
Heritage
Restoring the physical building of the church is vital to saving and sharing the heritage. Through our engagement, we are aware that there is a near-total lack of awareness of the area's rich medieval history. We will address this by making St Andrew the Less an innovative and immersive heritage centre, which will be used by local people and visitors to Cambridge.
Community
We will create a vibrant community space, welcoming to the whole community. We have reached out to local organisations such as Abbey People, the Riverside Area Residents Association, local councillors and the Cambridge United Foundation to understand the needs of the local area. There is a significant lack of community space and provision for both old and young.
Biodiversity
Securing the building of St Andrew the Less will ensure that we can continue to create a haven for biodiversity in its grounds, a process which has begun in collaboration with Christ Church, and which will continue and be safeguarded. Eventually, we will open up the garden for mental well-being and
environmental learning and connect St Andrew the Less with the neighbourhood’s environmental nodes, as well as heritage ones, such as Logan’s Meadow, the Abbey House Gardens and the commons.
