Following very successful fundraising, grant applications and hard work the repairs to our stonework and limestone mortar are now complete! the walls are wind and rain tight again.Now we have to address three parts of the roof where lead theft and weather damage over the years have led to an increasing number of buckets around the building.During the snow in January, water started pouring in through the ceiling in the choir vestry which was totally new to us. Theft of the lead above the vestry has caused problems for a long time but this new area was something else to witness!Our organ, quite rare and well thought of, was damaged by rain coming through the roof above. We paid for plastic sheeting to be installed to cover it and for immediate repairs.At the back of church, where the tower meets the nave, broken guttering lead to water penetrating the roof and rotting timbers. This is also fairly major.These three areas are going to cost around £53,000 to fix in three stages. We have applied for permission, obtained quotations and are about to start work on the most urgent.Now that the government has confirmed that the Listed Buildings fund will continue for another 12 months, we will, at least, be able to get the VAT back.
Sea Sunday is held every year and is a special day to remember all those brave men and women who work at sea. It was held this year on Sunday July 14th. On the same day our four churches (Chilton Moor, East Rainton, Great Lumley and West Rainton) all met together at St Mary's, West Rainton.We were entertained, instead of a sermon, by the acting of the story of Jesus calming the waters by our 'Open The Book' group who take Bible stories to the schools in West and East Rainton.The collection that day was dedicated to the Mission to Seafarers.Our Treasurers had the pleasure of taking the collection to the South Shields mission to hand it over and take the opportunity to have a look at the wonderful chapel.Please go to the Missions' website, https://www.missiontoseafarers.org/ and have a look at the wonderful work that do.For example, they meet ships on the Wear and Tyne and transport Christians to and from the chapel for rest and prayer. They help with the aftermath of incidents on ships and keep records in the chapel.The staff and volunteers at South Shields were very welcoming and we are sure that they would welcome more visitors!
The PCC (Parochial Church Council) is incredibly delighted to announce that we have been successful in gaining building grants from the National Churches Trust and The Wolfson Foundation. These grants are £10,000 each and have to be matched with funding from our own savings (so around £40k in total.) Whilst this will be a strain on our finances, we will be able to repair and re-point the stonework around the east and north of the church. This will reduce the damp and on-going <a></a>issues with the internal plasterwork. We are busy applying for grants to help with roof repairs!
