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The £100,000
Restoration Appeal
for the Abbey Church
AN APPEAL to raise £100,000 to help protect the Abbey Church was
launched on Thursday 7th December 2006.
The routine five-yearly architectural survey had revealed that repairs were
needed to seal leaks in the roof while rare stained glasswork was in
danger of being lost unless remedial work was carried out to replace iron
window fittings corroded by rain. Plans were also drawn up to upgrade an
ailing boiler, install disabled people's toilets and provide a kitchen.
But funds were scarce and in a bid to get the cash required to protect the
building for future generations, a campaign was launched to find the money
needed for work to get under way.
The vicar, the Rev Christopher Atkinson, said: "This project is about
maintaining the fabric of the Abbey Church for future generations. The building has been blessed with an extraordinary
level of support from parishioners down the years and we hope this can
continue. When the fabric has needed attention, the town has responded
magnificently. There is now a need to restore the south aisle roof of the
unfinished 13th century north tower. In addition to this, the glorious
clerestory windows need urgent repair to their lead and glazing. This
wonderful building needs protecting from the ravages of time and
preserving for future generations to enjoy and we are calling for the good
people of Bourne to help us do this."
He added: “There are a lot of people with different talents and abilities
in the church working on this appeal and I am quietly confident about its
success.”
As expected, businesses, social groups, schools and individuals
helped in the fund-raising by holdings charity events, sponsored tasks
or simply by making donations and it was stressed that every penny will
make a difference.
Mr Atkinson added: “I am hoping that the
people will be inspired by the restoration which will lead to the church
being used more, both for worship and as a community facility for the parish.”
The fund raising event ended on Sunday 3rd February 2008 with a
morning service of thanksgiving at the Abbey Church when the celebrant and
preacher was the Archdeacon of Lincoln, the Venerable Arthur Hawes.
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The appeal ended with a visit to the Abbey
Church by the Archdeacon
of Lincoln, pictured here with (left to right) Betty James, Merryn
Woodland and Lorraine Edwards. |
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It had been hoped to raise the £100,000 during 2007 with work
getting underway as the money came in but in the event, the appeal closed
on Sunday 3rd February 2008 with £80,000 collected. Nevertheless, this was
a valiant effort by those involved who had organised more than 100 fund
raising events in the previous twelve months. Committee member Mrs Betty
James said: "Donations will be received for the foreseeable future. It is hoped that further monetary assistance will come in through grants
and perhaps other outlets. Also, due to their popularity, it has been
decided to continue with some fund raising events such as whist
drives, the highly successful Monday luncheon club and the charities
fair."
Arthur Lightfoot, one the the churchwardens, said it would be money well spent. "It is absolutely vital this
work is carried out to protect the fabric of this truly wonderful
building," he said. "The Abbey Church has been a huge part of this town
since it was built in 1138 and it is the duty of the present generation to
ensure it is protected for years to come."
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PENNIES FROM HEAVEN
THE VOLUNTARY EFFORT that can be found in
Bourne is mustered to many causes, not least to keep the ancient
Abbey Church in good order after nine centuries as the centre of the
town’s spiritual life. But money is always needed to maintain the
fabric of this Grade I listed building and last year’s appeal raised
a large part of the £100,000 required for the latest phases of
restoration and modernisation.
Donations came from many people, rich and poor, and Arthur
Lightfoot, churchwarden and chairman of the appeal, tells a
delightful story in the April 2008 issue of the parish
magazine illustrating these varied sources. He and fellow organisers
were feeling rather anxious when fund raising got underway in
December 2006 but they were soon cheered up by a telephone call from
a member of the Len Pick Trust pledging £10,000, the biggest
donation of the entire campaign. “It was”, writes Arthur, “the
blessing we desired because it kick started our work and generated
the spark which was needed to invigorate our efforts.”
The second donation, although far less grand, also had a major
impact but for a very different reason. “A kind lady of mature
years”, writes Arthur, “came into the office one day with a plastic
bag containing one and two pence coins which she had saved up as her
contribution and she happily handed over the money wishing us every
success with our work which she firmly believed in and strongly
supported. This lady had saved what little she had to help us and I
wonder what she had gone without in order to save those coins. The
term pennies from heaven comes to mind because her gesture speaks
volumes about what the Abbey Church means to the people of Bourne
and her generous act contributed to raising our morale.” |
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FROM THE ARCHIVES Our
sincere thanks are offered to those numerous ladies and gentlemen
who, either as workers, donors or purchasers, contributed to the
success of the Bourne Bazaar. The gross receipts amounted to £311
4s. 4d.; expenses £23 8s. 4d.; leaving as a clear balance £287 18s.
This relieves us of all financial embarrassment; and through your
kind insertion of this letter of thanks we beg to acknowledge in the
fullest and handsomest manner our grateful appreciation of the
generous way in which all classes of society from the castle to the
cottage
co-operated in bringing the bazaar to such a pleasing and successful
termination. Yours faithfully, H M Mansfield, Vicar, Thomas T Mawby
and R J Shilcock, churchwardens.
- letter to the Stamford Mercury, Friday 28th April 1882. |
NOTE: Photo courtesy Stamford Mercury
shows the appeal officials including (left to right)
the vicar, the Rev Christopher Atkinson, Ann Inkel (campaign artist),
Merryn
Woodland (treasurer) and Robert Kitchener (churchwarden).
See also
Restoration work
gets underway Len
Pick
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