St Mary's Lily Appeal

Readers may wish to know that as at 1 June about £45,000 has been raised so far for the appeal for the Porch rebuild so that we shall have a kitchen, WC and space for a crèche. Of the total, £20,000 (which includes £3,000 of Gift Aid) has come from within the village, which is a very good start, and we know that other parishioners will contribute when they are ready. To add to these sums, you are reminded that the PCC has pledged £25,000 to the Community projects (Garden, Nave and Porch), and £15,000 towards Restoration. So we are about halfway to our target of £175,000. 

The outside contributors include a number of individuals, such as the Lord Lieutenant, The Earl of Malmesbury, Peter Bottomley MP, and our friends from Trinity Episcopal, Fort Worth. The following Trusts also have helped: The Bulldog Trust (Hoare Family), The Eranda Foundation (Sir Evelyn Rothschild), The Headley Trust (restoration only), The Rainbow Charity, The Allchurches Trust, Awards for All (TVBC), and The Central Church Fund (see more below). We await replies from The Onyx Environmental Trust, The Hampshire and Islands Historic Churches Trust, Amport PCC, Test Valley and Hampshire Councils, The Garfield Weston Foundation, Skinners Trust and others. 

The PCC Members are very grateful for all the support given, and will continue energetically to raise the remaining money in the expectation that the New Porch will be built this winter, when the Pipistrelle Bats are wintering elsewhere. 

A most generous offer has been made by the Reverend David Brown, the Principal of Amport House, that several parties of about 30 people should come to see the House and Garden and have a drink and small eats. We hope to arrange such visits from late July and will ask for contributions to the Appeal from those who come. 

The Central Church Fund (CCF) has awarded a grant of £2,500 towards the costs of the Porch rebuild. The CCF vision is to support projects which show imagination in responding to need and which seek to bridge gaps. It makes grants to church and community projects throughout the C of E and last year gave over £400,000 to a wide variety of inspiring parish projects, such as ours, and for employing an outreach worker for the elderly, the young and other needy people. 

Garden of Rest and Nave and Dedication 7 May.

Those who have visited St Mary’s since the New Year will have noticed that the box hedge has been planted in the Garden of Rest – all that is left to do is planting small groups of spring flowers in March.  Work starts in the Nave on 13 March, when the pews will be removed and delivered to those who have asked for them.  Next, the wooden floor will be taken up, and replaced flush with, and a new carpet fitted, to cover the full Nave floor.  In early April the new chairs will be delivered, and a new sound system introduced.  The decision to replace the pews was taken two years ago following a survey of parishioners, and three public meetings.  Two thirds were in favour, though a few were strongly against.  Thus by Easter, mainly by Palm Sunday, the first stage of making St Mary’s more usable, will have been completed, and Bishop Trevor Wilmott will dedicate the Nave and Garden at an evening service on 7 May.