How to start a New Year? Why not help a church, Helen Jowett contacted us last year to see if it would be possible for up to 12 members of her team to spend the day with us, carrying out any odd jobs. She thought this would be a good team building activity for her team from Halifax based insurance company Caravan Guard. Helen said “I chose this as an opportunity to give something back to the community I grew up in. Christ Church has been a big part of my life from a very young age. We class this as our family church and attend many of the church’s different services on a regular basis. We are always really grateful that Caravan Guard, give staff the time to go out and offer our services, where it is needed the most”Originally the plan was to continue painting the outside railings and some gardening, but due to the inclement weather it was proposed to do a full clean of inside the building.Following the work done installing the new lights as well as the number of people who attended church over the Christmas period, a full clean of the church was a great start.The team spend the day mopping and polishing the Nave, Chancel, Gallery and Community Room. They even donated items for Junior Church, the Community Garden and biscuits for our coffee mornings.Helen’s team leader Laura Russ said “Helen asked if we could spend our community charity day at the church her family attends which was a great opportunity to give something back to the local area. We all had a really great day getting the church in ship shape after a recent refurbishment and we all felt that we had achieved something great by the end of the day.”Churchwarden Peter Henry said “Our thanks go to Caravan Guard for allowing staff the time to help charities in the community, we are really thankful for the work they have done today, the difference the guys have made is noticeable”
Christ Church Sowerby Bridge has celebrated the end of a 12 month funding campaign with new lights that shone just in time for the Christmas celebrations.The Sowerby Bridge Church commissioned a new responsive lighting scheme and emergency lights to replace old wiring and 1970’s fluorescent tubes. The light levels have improved substantially so visitors can now see the architectural features and performers and exhibitors will enjoy an improved venue to host live entertainment and art exhibitions. The lighting was used for the first time during the church’s carol services and school nativity in December. The Community Foundation for Calderdale has supported the church with a grant specifically for the LED fittings as it met one of their ten core themes; ‘environment”’. They support charitable organisations that can make a real and lasting difference and challenge inequality across Calderdale. They helped the project demonstrate that even with a building dating from 1821 meaningful, sustainable and vital changes can be made to its carbon footprint.Church Warden, Peter Henry, said: “This year our theme for Christmas and Epiphany is “Follow the Star”, as we celebrate Jesus as the Light of the World. It is wonderful that we can now vary the lighting in different parts of the church to spotlight the font or the altar, and to dim the lights for candle lit services. Looking forward, now we have emergency lighting we can safely use the church in the evenings for community events and hope to develop this in 2019."We are very grateful to all the other organisations and individuals who have contributed. Yorkshire based charities The Bramall Foundation and Sir George Martin Trust have helped with the challenge of re-wiring together with national support from Garfield Weston Foundation and Allchurches Trust. This project will ensure the church can serve the community for many years to come and improve the experience for those worshipping or visiting this Grade 2 Listed Building.“The PCC want to thank all these grant givers, and members of the Unite Union and the Community Giving Scheme at our local Nestlé branch. Thanks also to local people who’ve attended fundraising events or made donations towards our appeal.”Emma Woods Bolger from the Community Foundation said: “Christ Church submitted a compelling case for support, and are clearly committed to ensuring the Church reduces its carbon footprint, therefore along with our co-funders 6C, we were pleased to offer a grant to support to the project”.
