As you will by now no doubt have noticed, the thermometer on the side of the Post Office, recording the sums raised for the Restoration Appeal has now come down.
Our initial target was to raise some £400,000, principally to enable restoration of the windows and replacement of the heating system to be undertaken and so it was that this trust was born.
A little over three years later, the final figure looks like being almost £440,000, which, together with money set aside by the PCC has meant that some £500,000 has been made available for the restoration of the fabric of the church. This money has come from a number of sources – from those who have been able to give us grants towards the work, from those who have been extraordinarily generous with large private donations and from numerous small donations and fundraising events.
Many people have contributed in making this appeal a success, some with money and some with their time and their own special skills and organisation. Between us all we have had a Forties weekend, a sale at Stowell Park, Christmas bazaars, and numerous concerts, including two given by Music in Country Churches, one attended by H R H Prince Charles. So, as we call an end to the Restoration Appeal, a huge thank you to all those who have given and helped in so many ways.
The appeal is over.
But the job of securing the future of the building is only just beginning. We all need somehow to find the wherewithal to ensure that the church does not again find itself facing such a daunting task as finding £400,000 following an unexpected masonry fall which left the building covered in expensive scaffolding whilst the hunt for funds began. So the task now must be to look to secure funds for the future with continued fund raising, encouraging bequests and growing the fledgling Friends organisation. The Trustees would like to hear from anyone with ideas, or who is prepared to help, perhaps by becoming a Trustee or joining a fund raising committee. Contact any of the Trustees if you feel able to help.
Trustees: Chairman: Chris Hancock. (Chris Hancock is at Great Union House, Market Place, on 01451 861284)
Treasurer: David Turtle Secretary: Chris Fothergill, Mike Pezet, Bill White.
