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Target: £100,000
Total Raised to 19th December 2022: £57,241.73
This figure includes the sum raised by the 2022 Chrstmas Tree Festival and is well over half-way towards the target of £100,000.
Thank you to everyone who donated so generously
Why the Money is Needed
The 2016 survey of the structure of the church building, which lists and estimates the costs of items of repair and maintenance, reported defects totalling about £150,000 (including VAT, project management fees etc). They were categorised into degrees of urgency spread over the next 5 years till the next survey in 2021.
As a result of previous fundraising efforts, the Friends Of St Mary's were able to commit the sum of £30,000 towards the cost of £46,000 for the repointing of the South elevation of the tower. This was completed in 2018 and was considered the most urgent of the repairs necessary.
To enable some of the remaining defects - some of which remain on the urgent list - to be addressed as soon as possible, we now need to raise another £100,000 approximately. Some of this may come from grants, but we need to be able to demonstrate what we have done to help ourselves as a village to qualify for consideration.
The most important and costly items remaining from the 2016 survey consist of:
Re-rendering the North wall and refurbishment of rainwater goods. £35,000
Repair and renew stonework externally and internally. £28,000
Renew lighting to save future costs. £20,000
Extend lightning conductor. £10,000
The next 5-yearly (quinquennial) review of the church was performed on 27th April 2021. As a result, the priorities in the above list are being revised.
Repairs of this nature are expensive as they require specialist trades when dealing with a Grade 1 listed building. Building costs have, of course, risen since 2016 and no doubt there will be additional items when the next church survey is prepared.
Malcolm McLelland. Chairman
We are most grateful to the following donors, as well as the many other persons who prefer to remain anonymous:
Joe and Imogen Padfield Alec Alexander Peter and Sioned Vos
Barry Barnes Barbara Marsh Muriel Pleasance
RL and LC Slaughter Phil Boole John Adams
Gwendoline Colmer Colin and Helen Smith Veronica
Jennifer Paice Dave Pilcher Pamela Bradley
East Preston Residents Sheila Hodge Susan Crowther
Susan Spurgin Chris and Joanna Cooke Margaret Carruthers
Ann and Norman Thorne Robert Craine Helen Warner
Trevor Snyman JA Broster Christopher Snewin
Christopher Roberts Tes Clark Susan Bennett
Colin Crane Philip Sherwin E Cooke
Peter Skilton Mary Cameron PL Thornton
MT Keating M & J Gerrard Betty Isted
Mardell Family AE Love Linda Coote
Gillian Siviter RM Linley-Munro John Reynolds
Yvonne Nicol Stella Collier Edna Lovell
Sheila Young MR Walker John Cogman
Peter Leighton Albert Hill Justine and Frank Schageman
Barry Barnes Lol Pilfold Michael Burgess
DL Ellis Sheila Wright Pat Marsh
HE Aldridge Charles Johnson Patricia Blackborn
Melanie Careless Jennifer Boros Derek McCoubrey
Sandra Coney Sylvia Luscombe Vanilla White
VM Parkes Jim and Dorothy Lee Frank James
Jim Douglas David Eastes Tony Black
Jean Williams Stan Wheeler and Carolyn Knott Peter Lewis
"All About" Magazine Glyn Mathias Mr Jeffries
Alan and Margaret Gibbs S Froggitt Yvonne Rimmer
St Mary's Womens Fellowship Our Lady Star of the Sea Lyndon Thomas
Corinna Irvine Pearline Wakeman Alan and Margaret Gibbs
Mr Jefferies Yvonne Rennier Debbie Woods