St Giles’ Restoration Fund
The May Fair on 10th May was well attended and a very enjoyable event.
Thank you to everyone who helped, both with donations of bric-a-brac etc. beforehand and with setting up and running stalls on the day. The home-made cakes were a great attraction as always, and the cream teas and strawberries were much enjoyed. Thank you also to the Village Hall Committee for allowing us to use the hall, and to the following local businesses who donated prizes:
Black Horse Pub White Hart Pub
Cranborne Post Office Cranborne Pet Supplies
Café 24 Summer Fresh
Strangeways Riding Stables
The event raised £620 towards the restoration fund, which is a very encouraging result.
Forthcoming events.
The date for this year’s concert is not yet fixed, but it will be in the autumn.
Any aspiring performers will be very welcome.
There is a possibility of a quiz night. Dates will be published as soon as possible.
Meanwhile the work on the Blanche Lane flint wall will be starting soon.
St Giles’ Church Restoration News
After a very busy year of fundraising events, we have been taking some time over Christmas to reflect on what we have done so far and plans for the future. As a result of all our activities, and some very generous donations, the Restoration Fund is now
£6,000 better off. Repairs to the floor near the pulpit are scheduled to start on 25th January, and we will be arranging repairs to the flint wall along Blanche Lane in the Spring. This is a very encouraging start, and a big achievement for a small parish.
This year we need to continue raising funds, and start scheduling other work such as repairs to the stonework on external windows & at the base of pillars inside the church. Social fundraising events will continue, and we welcome any comments and suggestions for these. We will also be investigating the possibility of grants from various charitable bodies towards specific repairs, though these would never cover the complete cost. Any advice based on experience of the application process for such grants would be most welcome.
Cardboard Boxes: The small collecting boxes are designed to be kept at home or used at small fund raising events, such as a Coffee morning. Please will anyone who still has one of these bring it into Church so the money can be counted and banked? We have more boxes and will be making them available.
Repairs in Detail: The floor underneath the pews, and in front of the pulpit, is composed of screed. This is a traditional mixture of sand and cement, which does wear over time. The area under the 3 front pews on the South aisle is particularly badly worn, and there is one significant hole. Work on this is being done by Checkalow, of Barnet. They will remove the old screed, and replace it with a new mixture including an additive to make it firmer and water-resistant. A trial excavation showed a concrete under- floor which will be treated with a liquid damp-proof membrane. After the new screed has been laid, it has to be left to harden for 7 days before the surface can be sealed.
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