15/07/2020
PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL
OF WOOLACOMBE
It is over 100 days since the lockdown began and, at that time, our attention turned to keeping safe and secure from Covid 19 and supporting those around us. Now that the restrictions are beginning to ease, we can start to return to as near normal as possible - which means that we have been able, from Sunday July 12th, to worship together again in our unique and beautiful building, St Sabinus' Church. Our enforced absence from it has made us even more aware of the privilege of worshipping in church and the joy it gives us.
The building was created by those of faith who went before us, and we are custodians of it. The building cannot survive for future generations without our care and it needs a new roof if it is to survive. The building is listed, and so the roof must be replaced in the correct manner using the correct materials. We need to raise an estimated £380,000 to able to complete the task.
As well as protecting and prolonging the building and its heritage, the project will benefit the local economy as the architect and contractors will all be local. And, of course, the church exists to serve the people of this community.
When Coronavirus struck, we were about to launch our “Raise the Roof” appeal for funds to install the new roof but, naturally, it was cancelled as other priorities were paramount. Now that the situation is beginning to improve, we are launching the appeal from 15th July 2020.
We will not be having the launch party we had planned because the circumstances have changed dramatically, and it doesn’t feel appropriate. The economy of North Devon will need time to recover from the hardships the lockdown has brought. Raising such a large sum was never going to be easy, but it will be very much harder to achieve now, with so many households and businesses having lost precious income. So we open our appeal in complete understanding of those circumstances and in the knowledge that it will take far longer to be successful. However, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, according to Lao Tzu, so we have to begin.
We will be applying to a range of grant-giving organisations in the hope some of them will be able to support our appeal. We would be very grateful for any donations that people might be able to offer regardless of the amount. We have set up a separate bank account for the Roof Appeal – BACs details below:
Account name: PCC of Woolacombe Roof Account
Sort code: 53-61-21 / Account number: 63107813
Reference: Roof Appeal, plus your surname (unless you wish to remain anonymous)
- If you'd like to talk to someone about donating, please contact our Finance Officer, Colin Hood, on 01271-871077 or at [email protected]
- If you'd like to GiftAid your donation, please contact our Planned Giving Officer, Colin MacPherson, at [email protected]
- For any other enquiries, please contact the Vicar, Giles King-Smith, at [email protected]
And finally ... the St. Sabinus' Roof Group would like to record their thanks for every contribution to the Roof Appeal - whether already made or in the pipeline!
