AN URGENT fund-raising campaign has begun to secure the future of an historic Worcester church which is at severe risk of irreversible damage unless vital roof repairs are carried out.
A rallying call has gone out to city residents to dig deep and help save the Grade 1 listed St Swithun’s Church from terminal decline.
Rainwater has been pouring through the broken roof-tiles causing the felt lining to perish, the roof timbers to decay and the elegant plaster interior to stain and crumble.
An ambitious fund-raising project from church owners, the Churches Conservation Trust and the Friends of St Swithun’s Church has so far raised a staggering £375,000.
Should caring Worcester residents and businesses help them raise the final £91,000 needed, the church owners will be able to make a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for the remaining £1,639,700 needed to fund the £2million refurbishment.
Rachel Morley from the Churches Conservation Trust, said: “Raising the outstanding £91,000 is a big challenge but we are hopeful that the city of Worcester will get behind this beautiful, venerable building and help give it a new lease of life.
“The Churches Conservation Trust is a small charity which protects 352 nationally important historic churches; a function it can only perform with local support and donations.
“However, of course, the longer the roof is damaged, the greater the decay – and repair costs – will be,” she added.
The historic church is also looking to the future with ambitious plans to regenerate the building as a city centre arts venue.
With support from Heritage Lottery Fund, and a number of other partners across Worcester, the charity hopes to create a flexible space for innovative arts and music events, commercial hire and community use.
If successful, the charity hopes the project will secure the long-term survival of the building by completely replacing the roof, protecting the unique Georgian interior and putting the building back into community use.
A programme of events are being held to help raise vital funds, from auctions to music festivals and weekly organ recitals.
CCT staff will also be jumping on the saddle and cycling 350 miles to help save the church.
And should the efforts prove successful, work will start in 2018 with a provisional opening date in spring 2019.
Visit www.visitchurches.org.uk/save-st-swithuns to donate and for more information.
