St Nicholas Restoration

Dear friends,

We have some good news !

The Planning Application has been submitted at last … Since the village meeting in January at which the Architects presented their plans and model for the restoration of the church and despite the church being “under wraps”, much has been happening.

It has taken some time to get the detail right, but it was agreed at a meeting on July 15th to go ahead and present the plans to the planning authority and the Diocesan Advisory Committee. Both these bodies are crucial in the progress of the project, and we have kept them informed with details of how it is all developing, so hopefully their decision should not take too long.

Once permission is granted, the project will be drawn up in minute detail and costed ready for putting out to tender. So we have taken a big step in moving on to the next stage of this, and are praying that nothing will hold up the process.

Fundraising

May I also take this opportunity to turn your attention towards our fund-raising efforts. As you are aware from previous Bulletins, the insurance company will pay a large part of the re-build cost but in order to create facilities within the church for both present and future generations, a further £90,000 is needed to install toilets, a kitchen and an office as well as providing facilities for wider community use.

We are encouraging anyone who would like to run a fund-raising event, whatever that might be, to simply have a go.

We have already had some excellent events – the Village Voices concert, a poetry evening, a few metal-detecting afternoons, and a talk about hearing difficulties have help raise over £3,000 so far – a magnificent sum.

Our fundraising total now stands at over £14,000.

So if you want to hold or help run an event to raise funds for the restoration project, or to make a donation, please contact James Fleuty (883708) or Don Simpson (426652).

Donations can also be made via the website www.stnicholasrestoration.com

Rev Martin Green

On the 8th August, the Hinckley Search Society were once again out detecting for the St Nicholas Restoration fund. Their day’s efforts raised £180, bringing the total raised by the group to £930.

The Hinckley Search Society would like to extend their thanks to Don Simpson for his help in the co-ordination of our events with the kind help of local landowners and farmers in Radford Semele and the surrounding villages. They couldn’t have done it without you!

Further events are planned, as the group hope to break through the £1000 raised milestone !

Wayne Burton handing over proceeds of the days detecting of £180 to Don Simpson.

Photo courtesy of W Burton.

We can now accept online donations to the St Nicholas Restoration Fund via PayPal. The charity has registered with PayPal had our charity status confirmed.

To donate online, please click the Donate button on the right hand side.

Fundraising for the restoration of St Nicholas Church, Radford Semele has moved up a gear now that a target figure of £90000 has been established.

The church was extensively damaged as a result of an arson attack on Palm Sunday 2008. The skeletal four walls and bell tower remain but the only salvageable item from the inside was the Collection Plate – God has a sense of humour!

A Fundraising Group has been set up to co-ordinate the many offers of help that have been received and the first major event was held on Saturday 15th May at the Community Hall in Radford Semele when the Village Voices Choir presented “An entertaining look at the Journey of Life” to a large and appreciative audience.

The Village Voices Choir, founded in 1995, raises money each year for a number of local charities by donating the proceeds of their concerts.

To set the mood, the Choir began with The Entertainer and moved musically through different stages of life, from Teddy Bears Picnic to Now it’s time to leave, taking in songs from the shows, an African medley, the topical Over the rainbow sung by musical director Clare Langstone (“could Clare be Dorothy?!”) and concluding with a rousing rendition of Razzle Dazzle!

A very entertaining evening which raised over £700 towards the target – only £89300 to go!

Article by Peter Morrell