Alpha International, the charity which runs Alpha, has completed its purchase of the six storey office building in Holy Trinity Brompton’s parish which will be its new headquarters.

The £7.8 million purchase was finalised on March 31 and almost immediately builders moved in to start repair work on the roof and to renovate the interior to prepare it for the arrival of more than 150 staff from Holy Trinity Brompton and Alpha.

The staff are due to move in during the week of HTB’s summer holiday week at the end of July, creating large amounts of extra space at the Holy Trinity and St Paul’s Onslow Square sites where they are currently based.

Plans are being made to create more rooms for church activities including youth work, pastorate groups, refreshment facilities, social transformation projects and other community projects.

The new building, which is two large houses joined together and includes two porticos with front doors on to the Cromwell Road, stands opposite the Natural History Museum.

The financing of the purchase has been made possible through a large mortgage and a number of generous donations given for the purpose of purchasing the building. Other potential benefactors have expressed their desire to help and more are being sought.

Vicar Nicky Gumbel has made clear that money given by congregation members at the recent Gift Day will not be used to buy the building.

HTB Maintenance Manager Michael Anderson has taken charge of some 40 different contractors who have moved into the building to start work.
Over the next 16 weeks, floor layouts are being re-arranged in order to give a more open-plan feel to the interior. A lift is being fitted and a complete re-decoration taking place.

Michael said, ‘It is a massive amount of work. It’s going to cost close to £1 million and we’ve got 16 weeks to complete it. We have a fantastic team of all trades who all work well with one another.’

Nicky Gumbel said, ‘For many years the work of Alpha and the church community of which it is a part here at Holy Trinity Brompton has been in need of space.

‘This new building will enable the work of the charity and the church to expand in ways which are hugely exciting.'