Can you help create a new heart for our community?
Local people are in a desperate race against time to save St John’s Church in Bemerton, Salisbury, Wilts.
Built to honour local poet, George Herbert, this much-loved landmark started to feel the cold a few years ago. As the congregation shrank – and the Victorian heating system – expired, this beautiful church faced closure or worse (being turned into a Carpet Warehouse!)
Undaunted, the local Rev Simon Woodley launched a campaign to turn a chilly chapel into a warm and vibrant community hub. Combining a reduced church role with a large, community venue, St John’s Place will serve everyone from the local primary school – bursting at the seams and in urgent need of more space – to romantic couples wanting to marry in church – and celebrate in the newly-renovated space. Pews will be moved to make way for community groups that could range from after-school kids’ clubs to yoga classes for the over 60s.
The space we’re hoping to create will feel weloming – and look stunning!
So far, the valiant villagers of Bemerton have raised a phenomenal £300k to fund the required renovations – but more is urgently needed if we are to hit our deadline: If we can’t raise the required funds within the next few weeks, the plug gets pulled…
Our beautiful church is on life-support: can you come to our rescue? Just the smallest donation could help secure a beating heart for our community.
Thanks so much in advance!
If you’d like to follow progress to-date, please see our blog –
http://stjohnsbemerton.blogspot.co.uk/