MEMBERS of All Saints Church in Westbury are extending heartfelt thanks to the local community after the successful completion of their roof repair appeal.
Last year, the church faced significant challenges after thieves stole lead from the roof, leaving the historic building exposed to the elements. And due to the increasing cost of lead thefts, insurers do not pay out the full cost to repair the damage so the congregation and local community were left having to find the shortfall.
The process of organising repairs was complex, involving necessary permissions, securing contractors, and raising the required funds. However, thanks to the generosity and support of Westbury residents, the repairs are now complete – just in time for winter.
The church replaced the stolen lead with an alternative, less-vulnerable material and upgraded its roof alarm system to deter future thefts.
“We would like to thank those from the Westbury community who supported our appeal to repair the roof,” said Rebecca Harris, team rector at White Horse Team Ministry. “We are pleased to announce that the repairs have now been done for the winter and we have been able to cover the cost, with many thanks to all our supporters. Thank you to all who supported us in this appeal. We are very grateful to you. All Saints’ Church is here for the whole community of Westbury. We are here to be a safe and welcoming space in which to meet with God, to reflect and pray. We are also here to worship God week by week and to share in the joys and sorrows of our local people, through weddings, baptisms and funerals, as well as other key moments in the calendar like Remembrance, Christmas, Easter and Harvest. We depend heavily on our local community to support our church building so we can be here for future generations. Just to remind you that we receive no extra funding from the national church or the government. We rely heavily on voluntary donations from church members and the local community for our ancient Grade 1 listed building which requires a lot of care and maintenance. Please continue to show your support for our church and help us to continue to be a positive Christian presence in the community. Thank you.”
