THE former community centre in Wallyford will remain a “hub” for local people after being sold to the Livingroom Church.

After the community centre relocated to the new Wallyford learning campus on Masons Way, the building on Albert Place was advertised for sale.

A spokesperson for East Lothian Council said: “Interest was received from both commercial and community groups, and a closing date was set.

“Offers to purchase the building were received and on Friday, November 8, the building was sold to the Livingroom Church.”

People who attend the Livingroom, an independent evangelical church, are now moving from their present meeting place at Wallyford Miners Welfare and Social Club to their new home at the former community centre.

Volunteers from Wallyford Livingroom Church lend a hand as the move into the former community centre got under way earlier this month

Mr Agnew said: “The Livingroom Church in Wallyford is pleased to announce that it has purchased the former Wallyford Community Centre building on Albert Place from East Lothian Council.

“The Livingroom Church has been serving the community of Wallyford for over 16 years, building on the work of the Wallyford Mission, which began in 1926.

“This will allow the church to expand the range of activities for the community in the months to come and remain a hub for the people of Wallyford.”

He told the Courier that he knew the team at the former community centre and co-ordinator Pamela Martin very well, having first made contact with her when he moved to Wallyford with his family in 2010 to develop the Livingroom Church, after working with street children in Mexico.

He said the church had been “quietly growing” over the years and they had it in mind that, whatever building they had, it should be one that was “just for people to know they can use, that they have people on their side and can belong”.

Mr Agnew had heard about a community asset transfer and contacted Pamela to let her know they were interested in the community centre building.

The Rev Andrew Agnew, of Wallyford Livingroom Church, and his wife Carol 

He said: “I wanted to be clear that we don’t want to replicate what she does. We want to do other things that may be helpful in this community and Pamela was so gracious.

“We are thinking about warm space, we’re thinking about further activities such as pickleball, badminton and five-a-side football.

“We have loved what Pamela has done here for so long. Pamela is the true angel of Wallyford.”

He added: “The former community centre is such an iconic and well-loved building in Wallyford.

“People have so many good memories here, sending their kids here or even being kids here, or coming to lots of things that have happened here.

“It gives us an incredible opportunity. So as we think about it as a church and what we do, it fits right in.

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“We want to really make this building inviting and make it a place where people really love hanging about in.”

He said they studied the community learning and development plan for East Lothian, adding: “Two major things that came through was socially isolated old people and youth and children.”

Mr Agnew said they hoped to provide soup and a roll at a cheap price for socially isolated older people, giving them a place where they could meet friends.

He added: “A lot of kids feel they are forgotten about and there’s not much for them to do. We feel with a building like this we can investigate and really deliver great things to give kids an option of a place to be and belong.”

He explained that a design team was looking at contemporary ideas for areas of the building, saying: “We can hardly sleep at the moment because we’re so full of ideas. Bit by bit, we are looking forward at how we can use this amazing facility because we are glad we have been able to keep this for Wallyford because it is for Wallyford, because we love Wallyford.”

He hoped to hold services in the big gym hall by the beginning of next month.