'Help us raise £32,000 for essential repairs to Bamber Bridge's finest building'
The parish community was founded in 1780 and will celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2030. Whilst the current, Grade II listed church, largely dates from 1891/92, the tower dates from 1826 and the spire from 1866.
A landmark church in the heart of Bamber Bridge needs essential repairs - and the community is being asked to help.
Grade II-listed St Mary’s Catholic Church in Brownedge Lane has a 200-year-old tower and 160-year-old spire, which dominate the local skyline and provide a well-loved landmark.
The tower - with a scaled-down replica of ‘Big Ben’ - holds a peal of eight bells dating from 1927, with a dedicated team of bell-ringers who practice on Thursday and Sunday evenings and who ring for weddings and other occasions, as well as for national and local events.
But time has taken its toll on the structure, and now essential repairs in the region of £32,000 are needed - with time of the essence.
A spokesman for the church said: “The spire is now in urgent need of repair. The necessary works will cost in the region of £32,000, which is some £6,000 more than previously thought, due to the Government’s recent decision to end VAT relief on repairs to places of worship.
“It is hoped that, the work can be undertaken prior to the winter to ensure there is no further deterioration and that the spire, together with the tower, are fit for purpose, and remain an iconic and much loved landmark, for many years to come.”
In order to raise the funds, church leaders have launched the St Mary’s, Brownedge Spire Appeal, hoping to raise money in a number of ways, including applications for grant funding, an online Crowdfunder appeal, monthly parish collections, and parish and community based fundraising events.
The appeal has already received welcome donations of £4,000 from the St Mary’s, Brownedge 200 Club, £1,000 from the Council 212 Brownedge of the Knights of St Columba and a number of individual donations.