An evangelical group plans to make its church in central Hereford more eye-catching with large signs and a video wall.

Based in a former cinema and nightclub in Commercial Road, the Freedom Church is seeking permission to put up the church’s lion’s head logo across four panels measuring 15.2 metres by 7.5 metres in total, which would cover a large part of the streetside wall.

It also plans a two-by-four-metre “video wall” next to this, 2.8 metres above the ground. The stonework below would be painted a dark grey to match the signage.

RELATED NEWS:

Also planned is a new vinyl sign above the main door, whose existing shutter will also be redecorated with the wording: “Have you found your place, your people, your purpose? It’s here!”

The Art Deco building opened as the Ritz Cinema in 1938 with seating for over 1,000. It then went through several name changes and alterations, with part of the building later becoming a bingo hall and night club.

In 2016 it was taken over by Freedom Church, a non-denominational evangelical group led by senior pastors Gary and Heather Snowzell, which began in Herefordshire in 1988 and is now active in 10 countries.

Comments on their application for advertisement consent, numbered 233317, can be made until December 14.