St Philip's Church in Mill Road, Cambridge.

A £1.7 million project to overhaul a Victorian church could be completed by Easter.

Parishioners moved out of St Philip’s Church in Mill Road, Cambridge, a year ago and have been worshipping in nearby St Philip’s Primary School in Vinery Way.

But soon the hoardings will come down unveiling the new look church, boasting new community rooms as well as a cafe.

Vicar of St Philip’s Church Rev Stewart Taylor said plans were in the pipeline for 11 years but are finally being realised.

He said: “Our vision has been for the community and being in Mill Road we felt we could be more welcoming in terms of our frontage.”

Next Thursday Cambridge City Council’s East area committee will be asked to approve £78,000 funding from developers to the church to set up its cafe and create a ‘training’ kitchen for young people with physical 
and learning disabilities.

The cafe will be run in partnership with Papworth Trust using the same model as the OWL Cafe the disabilities charity runs in conjunction with Sawston Free Church.

Rev Taylor said: “The cafe is a social enterprise for training people with learning difficulties so they are learning on the job.

“It will be open from Monday to Friday and possibly Saturdays at a later date.”