Building works to restore the church tower will start on 1 April and last until mid-August 2025. During this time, the church will remain open everyday for private prayer and for our normal Sunday Services. Entry to the church at weekends will be through the Lychgate door. During the week, the tower doors will not be in use for the public. There will be an alternative entrance via the Lychgate path towards the back of the church. Please follow the signs. The door into the church is clearly marked as CHURCH ENTRANCE. We regret that there are two steps to this entrance and therefore it is not accessible for those using a wheelchair. During this period, wheelchair access to the church is only available at the weekend via the Lychgate Entrance.
St Botolph’s Church Tower Appeal - Can you help us?Our continuing thanks to all who are supporting this project!The story so far: Our target is to raise £175,000 by spring 2025 We have received grants totalling £108,000. Our thanks go to St Botolph’s Trust, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Historic Churches Trust, The William Delafield Trust, Benefact Trust and The Gale Family Trust. We have committed Church Funds of £20,000 Individuals have made generous donations and promises (pledges) totalling £16.500 Our fundraising events have raised £6,500.We are getting very close to our target, we just need £24,000…….If you would like to donate or make a pledge, please contact our Treasurer, Phil Armitage. (phil@armitage.uk.com )January 2025
Our continuing thanks to all who are supporting this project! The story so far: Our target is to raise £175,000 by spring 2025 We have received grants totalling £105,000. Our thanks go to St Botolph’s Trust, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Historic Churches Trust, The William Delafield Trust and Benefact Trust. We have committed Church Funds of £20,000 Individuals have made generous donations and promises (pledges) totalling £16,000 Our fundraising events have raised £6,000. We still need £28,000……. If you would like to donate or make a pledge, please contact our Treasurer, Phil Armitage. (phil@armitage.uk.com ) You can also help by supporting us at the Village Christmas Lights Event on Saturday 30 November!
TOWER RESTORATION PROJECTCAN YOU HELP? We are reaching out to you with our appeal to help fund repairs needed for our cherished church tower at St Botolph’s.St Botolph’s needs your support. The tower stone is weathered and there is loose mortar, with fragments of stone falling off. This poses a risk to people entering and leaving the church. We receive no funding from the Church of England, so we must raise £175,000 ourselves to make these critical repairs.Fortunately, our Trust—established through the generous legacies of parishioners—will cover 50% of the costs. We've also set aside £20,000 from church funds and, so far, secured £16,500 in grants, ( £10,000 Beds & Herts Histirc Churches trust and £6,500 The William Delafield Trust. )However, we still need £50,000 to reach our goal.We're applying for additional grants and hosting fundraising events, starting with the Harvest Festival of Talent on Saturday, 12 October 2024. But we can't do it alone—we need your help.Why is restoring the church tower so important?St Botolph’s has stood for 800 years, a cornerstone of our village's history and life. The current church building is a Grade II* listed building, recognized alongside other historic landmarks like Aspley House and Guise House. It's more than a building; it's a place of cherished memories, hosting services, weddings, christenings, concerts, and community events. It offers solace, peace, and a space for personal reflection.As a small Christian community, maintaining this historic site is increasingly challenging. We rely on legacies, donations, and grants to keep our doors open.We need your help. Please support us in preserving this vital part of our heritage. Every contribution brings us closer to our goal.Thank you for your generosity!
