Haworth Parish Church faces fund-raising challenge
Haworth Parish Church has a major challenge to face to secure its long-term future.
The Church (made famous by its connections to the literary family Bronte) needs approximately £1.25 million to make crucial repairs and restore the building built in 1879 to its former glory as well as make it fit for purpose in the Twenty First Century.
Haworth Parish Church’s proper name is St Michael and All Angels’ and it desperately needs the cash to make repairs to the north and south facing roofs; to restore the organ; to fund a replacement central -heating system which is in danger of packing up at any stage; to rewire the building and to provide better facilities for both the congregation members and the thousands of people who visit the Church every year.
The Rev. Peter Mayo-Smith, the Rector of Haworth Parish Church, is spear-heading the fund-raising campaign and he said: “The Church is an essential component of not only the Bronte story but also the life and spiritual well-being of the community being Haworth.
“This magnificent building needs a great deal of money spending on it to keep it open for worship and available to the many visitors seeking to connect with the Bronte legend.
“We believe it will cost in the region of £1.25 million to complete the work although we’re having more detailed costings of the work compiled by experts.”
The Church has formed a specialist committee known as the Futures Group to oversee the search for funding and income streams.
Added Rev. Mayo-Smith: “We have already made an application to English Heritage for financial assistance and we’re among a number of schemes being considered by them.
“However we realise that we shall have to match anything we receive from them on a £1 for £1 basis and that is a substantial challenge for the Church and its congregation.
“One of the schemes we’re considering includes potentially opening up of the current central hearing boiler room which is immediately adjacent to the tomb of the Bronte family, including two of the author sisters Charlotte and Emily.
“This could create a crypt and allow visitors to gain access to the Bronte tomb. However, this is something we need to investigate before making any firm decisions.
“A substantial amount of work, including the removal of a redundant central heating oil tank, would have to be undertaken before we could achieve that ambition.
“We’ve already started work on fund-raising and a number of schemes are already close to becoming reality and we hope that this will give a start to the task that will lead to the securing for future generations of Haworth Parish Church.”
For more information about Haworth Parish Church and its fund raising efforts please contact either Rev. Peter Mayo-Smith E-mail: peter@mayo-smith.net or John Huxley E-mail: johnhuxley@btinternet.com
[N.B. Please mention the Eagle Intermedia Bronte Country website when making your enquiries.]
[News item supplied by St Michael & All Angel’s Church, Haworth - 4th November 2010 .]
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