Appeal News Update No 18

The end is in sight ~  The dream is becoming reality

It seems such along time ago when, at the 2004 Annual Parochial Church Meeting, ideas were floated as to how we would like to see our church develop.  Who would have believed the impact these ideas have had not only on the members of the church, but also on the local community?   It has been so wonderful to experience the support we have received from so many people and organisations in the town.

Who would have thought that when we set out, with faith, to raise the £250,000 needed to complete the works that this target figure would rise to £466,426?  But we are nearly there.

Who would have believed that after just over five years

we have now raised   £426,767

and that, through our own fund raising efforts, we ourselves, have raised £212,267, i.e. nearly half of this total.

The reordering of the church is going well. 
The new position for the font is receiving many favourable comments and  “The Tardis”  at the back of the church is taking shape. The glass screen for the balcony, engraved with cockle shells and scenes from the hills around Dursley, will be magnificent.

The conversion of the Tanner Chapel as a chapel for private prayer and reflection. with chairs and carpet, and a reredos of a relief carving, by Tom Preater, (who carved the Madonna & Child in the Lady Chapel and created the Reredos behind the high altar), has received positive comments from the DAC. The plans have been submitted to the chancellor and we hope to have the faculty by the end of April.

So where does this leave us?

We planned to have the work completed by the 25th July – the Festival of St James.  We’ve booked the City of Bristol Pipes and Drums Band, The Dursley Male Voice Choir will be giving a concert. On the Sunday, Revd Tim Heaney will be join us and the Bishop will be coming to preach.  The contractors are only slightly behind schedule and, hopefully, there will be no major hiccups.

We still have our part to play.  We have travelled far and many of us are tired, you may be one, but we must not fall in the
home straight of this long journey.
Now is the time to support each other and finish
with a flourish.

We only need to find another £39,659
so what can you do in this final push?
Could you run a coffee morning or
an afternoon tea party? 
Will you open your garden or invite people in for a meal? 
Do you have any other ideas? 

Do you want to buy a pew?

If you have had good intentions to take out a standing order or increase an existing one and have not done so yet, could you do it now?  Forms for this are still at the back of the church!!

Will you think again as to whether you could give an interest free loan ~ it really doesn’t matter how small ~ if so please see Janet (or pick up a form at the back of the church)

Since January this year we have raised

         Books raised   £141          Cargo of Crumbs raised   £6

 

Not many weeks to go, the weather is going to be fine, keep up the FUNd raising and we can all join together in a massive celebration.

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