Application for Repairs to Church Tower & Spire
Please see notice below that we have applied to the Consistory Court of the Diocese of Manchester to carry out the repair and re-pointing of the tower and spire and re-bed of coping and kneeler stones.
Message from Rev Wendy Oliver
As I write this I am breaking the rules really as I am still on sick leave and will be for some time.
However I just had to say to you all a HUGE HUGE thank you for your incredible generosity in supporting the Tower/Spire fund. We have just about reached our goal of £33000 in 3 months not 6!
However, please do not stop giving as the more money we raise towards the £66000 means the less grants we require and who knows we may even raise the whole amount!
I have always known you were an incredible group of people and you are. THANK YOU!
I was listening to Julia's sermon for last Sunday 18 October 2019 - if you haven't seen, read or heard it please do check out our website christschurchharwood.org. It is excellent.
The reading is from Luke 10 regarding the sending out of the 72. It is a call to each and everyone of us to follow Jesus and serve our church in any way we can.
You may not realise that we now have a Youth Group (11-18) now called WAVES which is just starting to meet via Zoom each week. Connor has an amazing vision for our YP and is there not only to inspire them but also to train the leaders. There are over 20 youngsters in the 2 groups making up Waves.
The problem is lack of leaders. We only have Connor and 1 other at present.
I think it is a terrible indictment of our church when no-one wants to work with our YP, not only the church of tomorrow but also the church of today. What does it say to them? Will they feel part of the church when no adults are there to support them?
How can they know about Jesus who is alive and working in all our lives today if we don't share our own stories with them?
I know it is scary but at present all meetings are via Zoom and Connor is there to teach and encourage; our Lord Jesus is with us and his Holy Spirit will bring courage and the words we need. If you love children and want to see them come to the Lord contact Connor.
Please do contact Connor to find out more: Tel: 07941011687
Or email: connorharmsworth@manchester.anglican.org
Bless you all
Wendy
God's Church Our Future - Church Tower & Spire
GOD’S CHURCH - OUR FUTURE
CHURCH TOWER AND SPIRE
Many of you will be aware that we have a leaking tower & spire that needs totally repointing and repairing. We now know the cost will be about £66,000! A huge amount for us!
Grants for this type of work are notoriously difficult to obtain unless we can do some match funding of our own. This means we need to raise about £33,000 to give us the best chance of grants. If we gift aid too, that will increase our giving by 25%.
The PCC have unanimously agreed to give ourselves 6 months (that’s the time it will take to get all the legal planning etc in place) to raise this amount – or as much as we can in that time.
AS AT 11th OCTOBER 2020 we have raised £26,550.32. Gift-aid (an extra 25% from HMRC at the end of the year) totals £ 2,918.00 this is not included in the above total.
Obviously normal fund-raising is not an option at present so, in the first instance we are appealing to YOU for help.
GOD’S CHURCH - OUR FUTURE
WAYS TO RESPOND
• Prayer
As Christians we are all called to pray continually
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Mark 7:7, Luke 18:1
Call to Prayer meetings will held online and in church – details to be announced.
• Scripture
Matthew 14:13-21
The feeding of the 5000 with only 5 loaves and 2 fishes – and 12 baskets of food were left over at the end. This reminds us of God’s generosity. He can make miracles happen. We thought we would run out of money to keep the church going during the lockdown, but due to your generous donations already, we have been able to keep going – and more!
Matthew 13:31-33
The parables of the mustard seed and the yeast. This reminds us that from small things God can grow huge things! When we give from our hearts for the Kingdom of God then he blesses our gift and increases it.
Luke 21: 2-4
The poor widow gave with her heart, all she had, 2 small coins, but what a blessing they were!
• Financially
• either by cheque or online banking:
Account no. 65889318
Sort code: 089299
Marking your gift “Spire Fund”
• Give a donation to the appeal. Remember if 24 people give £1000 – we have reached our target!
• Set up a monthly standing order for the next 6 months for £10, £20, £50, £100 or more, or less
• Organise your own fund-raising event
• Put your small change in the ‘spire’ when you come to church
AND PLEASE DON’T FORGET
Do keep giving your usual offering, as we need to keep the church going as well as raise additional funds to protect the future of our church.
Gifts marked ‘Spire Fund’ can still be pushed through the Vicarage door as you pass.
Please remember to Gift Aid your gift because we can then claim 25% of the amount back from the Taxman at no extra cost to you!
FINALLY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!
MAY THE LORD RICHLY BLESS YOU AND YOURS
GOD’S CHURCH - OUR FUTURE
Here are some of the reasons that the PCC has agreed to take up this challenge now when we are still in the grips of Covid-19:
• The spire is leaking more and more each winter. The toilet floods, the upstairs vestry is black with damp and recently water was coming in onto the sound desk! It is now becoming urgent! If we cannot repair the spire, eventually our much-loved church will close.
• If we can apply for grants by early next year, they will be still based on last year’s forecasts and profits. By later in the year it is probable there will be less grant money available as the effects of the slow-down in the economy will be evident.
• We appreciate there are effects of hardship in members of our church, through redundancy and being furloughed from work. However, many of us have found that we have spent less money and may have some extra funds available.
• This challenge will give us all something positive to focus on rather than COVID 19, which is all-encompassing in our lives at present.
