Disability charity acquires historic Baptist Church

An historic Leicestershire church has been acquired by a local disability charity with 125 years of heritage.

Mosaic 1898 has purchased Whetstone Baptist Church with the aim of creating an all-encompassing hub for the South Leicestershire disabled community.

The charity can trace its roots back to the late 19th century. It provides support and care services to over 2,200 people, promoting inclusion, equality, independence, choice, empowerment, respect and dignity for all.

The church site, acquired by the charity for an undisclosed sum, comprises three separate buildings. The Manse, a 3-bed home on the church grounds, will be transformed into an around-the-clock respite care facility providing non-nursing short-breaks for people with complex needs.

The church’s community buildings will host adult day services, disabled children’s clubs, holistic therapy, wellbeing sessions and peer support groups. The buildings will also provide shared spaces for local business and education.

Meanwhile, Mosaic 1898 intends to use the church chapel for exhibitions, events, outreach and vocational training.

Zoheb Shariff, CEO of Mosaic 1898, said: “We are thrilled to announce the purchase of the Whetstone Baptist Church. This is a significant milestone for our organisation and a critical step in our ongoing efforts to create a more inclusive and supportive community for disabled people. We look forward to serving the community from this new location for years to come.”