Since I last wrote our amazing builders have indeed dug the foundations and filled them with cement! Wonderful progress!

Those of you who have visited the site or seen all our social media photos will know that the ground on site had been well and truly broken before we held our groundbreaking ceremony last Friday. However, we still needed to celebrate, and I am very excited to tell you all about this event today.

Breaking ground!

We marked this major milestone in the journey of the Kingsgrove Community Hub as we, KCH trustees, invited community leaders, supporters and partners to celebrate the official Breaking Ground Ceremony on the future site of the Hub.

After years of vision, planning, meetings, fundraising and perseverance, it was a moment filled with excitement, gratitude and hope for what is still to come.

Who came?

Around 30 guests attended the event, including representatives from Edgar Taylor, the builders leading the construction project, trustees from both Kingsgrove Community Hub and Oxford Community Church, members of Wantage Community Church, local councillors, Deputy Mayor Chris Walters, local MP Olly Glover and supporters of the project.

The ceremony took place on the exact site where the Kingsgrove Community Hub will soon begin to rise over the coming months. Standing together on the future footprint of the building made the occasion especially meaningful for everyone involved.

As guests arrived and preparations were underway, residents and families walking past the site stopped to look through the fences and watch the celebrations unfold. With a nearby primary school finishing for the day, there was a lovely reminder that this building is ultimately being created for the community around it. In the years ahead, we hope many of those same families and residents will walk through the doors of the completed Hub and make it part of everyday life in Kingsgrove and Wantage.

The event included a short speech from Neil Townsend who has worked on this project from its inception about 16 years ago, and I was privileged to say a few words as well. We both reflected on the long journey that has brought the project to this stage and the significance of finally seeing construction begin.

Reflections

This is my post ceremony reflection.

“It was wonderful to celebrate breaking ground last Friday. The ceremony marked an important milestone in the project as we move into the build phase. It is so exciting that we will now see the community building rise before us. We were delighted that so many of our supporters, including the Deputy Mayor, Chris Walters, Olly Glover our local MP and Councillor Andrew Crawford were able to join us and cheered as we put our spades in the ground and celebrated with a glass of bubbly.”

 Neil Townsend, OCC and KCH Trustee, reflected on the deeper significance of the moment:

“The groundbreaking ceremony for The Hub was a delight for me. After many years of vision, planning, gathering amazing people, teamwork and perseverance, to see the project turn a corner from vision to becoming reality was a joyful moment. I was excited to dig into the ground, but more than that I was excited because together we are building a facility that will serve the community and the church for centuries to come.” 

Paul Gander, Pastor of Wantage Community Church, shared:

"It was wonderful to be part of the breaking ground ceremony, celebrating the next stage and the building of the Hub! I am excited to see the building being built and look forward to the part that Wantage Community Church will play in its future."

Highlight of the event.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was the symbolic groundbreaking photo opportunity, where key project partners and supporters picked up spades and marked the official beginning of the construction phase together, followed by a celebratory toast with champagne.

Over the coming months, residents will begin to see visible progress on site as the Kingsgrove Community Hub starts to take shape. Once completed, the Hub will provide a welcoming space for community groups, local activities, wellbeing services, enterprise initiatives, events and social connection for people across Kingsgrove and Wantage.

Construction is expected to continue over the next 18 months, with the project team hoping to welcome the community into the completed building towards the end of 2027.

This ceremony was not simply about starting a building project. It was about celebrating the beginning of a new chapter for the community and recognising the many people who have helped carry the vision this far.

We look forward to continuing to share updates, stories and milestones throughout the build journey.

To follow the progress of the Kingsgrove Community Hub, keep an eye on our website and social media channels over the coming months.

What next?

Over the coming months, residents will begin to see visible progress on site as the Kingsgrove Community Hub starts to take shape. Once completed, the Hub will provide a welcoming space for community groups, local activities, wellbeing services, enterprise initiatives, events and social connection for people across Kingsgrove and Wantage.

Construction is expected to continue over the next 18 months, our project team is planning towards welcoming the community into the completed building towards the end of 2027.

This ceremony was not simply about starting a building project. It was about celebrating the beginning of a new chapter for the community and recognising the many people who have helped carry the vision this far.

I look forward to continuing to share updates, stories and milestones throughout the build journey in the next couple of weeks – lots will be happening on site. To follow the progress of the Kingsgrove Community Hub, keep an eye on our website and social media channels.

And don’t forget the QR code!

QR code

There is a QR code on the hoarding which will link you to all the latest updates on our social media. Do take a look and please share it. 😊

 Eileen, writing in May 2026

I’m Eileen, Chair of the KCH Trustees, and I was so excited to finally be signing the deeds and contracts so we can begin building The Hub. Here I am signing one in my kitchen — it was couriered to me, along with all the other signatories!

Have you seen the site?

It’s amazing to see so much activity on site already. The KCH team have all been visiting and have loved seeing Barry from Edgar Taylor, our builders, busy organising everything.

Mats have been laid to protect the pedestrian area, the fencing is up, the hoarding is in place, and the team are now levelling the site. It’s exciting to finally see everything coming together.

QR code

There’s a QR code on the hoarding which links directly to all the latest updates on our social media channels. Do take a look — and please share it 😊

Let me know

Are you a resident of Kingsgrove? I’d love to hear what seeing activity on site means for you. You can let me know via the links on our social media pages.

Drone footage

Howard has captured some fantastic drone footage of the site, giving a great view of the progress so far.

Looking ahead

By the time I write my next update, the builders could well be laying the foundations, so keep an eye on our website for all the latest news and updates.