St Mary's Pulborough Parish Church - Strength In Stone Spirit in Community £1m Appeal Launch

"Beating the Bounds", a revival of the ancient custom where community members walk the perimeter of their parish, was the first stage of the official launch of the St Mary's Pulborough Parish Church's  "Strength in Stone, Spirit in Community" appeal. Twenty intrepid walkers and one dog gathered at 9am outside the church on Saturday morning, and set off on a 13.7 mile sponsored walk around the village. Although some were forced to beat an honorable retreat, congratulations to all who managed to complete the walk around the parish boundaries. Congratulations also to everyone who completed the shorter 4.5 mile version.

The launch continued with a hog roast at 5pm, provided by "Bob the Hog", outside the west door of the church. Inside, an audio-visual presentation provided the background accompaniment to the party. As participants ate the delicious meal of pork cuts, salad and assorted nibbles, they learned more about the church building, its history, and the need for the fundraising appeal.

The launch concluded with a series of presentations. Laura Batchelor, who organised the launch, began by thanking everyone who had assisted, sponsored or attended the launch events.

Local resident Roger Hunt, an award-winning writer on old buildings, gave a sobering presentation on the work that needs to be done, and how the £1m will be spent, including the need to hire specialised craftsmen, the use of appropriate materials, and the many challenges ahead. The scaffolding alone is estimated at £110,000.

Peter Gregory, Parochial Church Council Member responsible for the fabric of the building,  joined Roger for a question and answer session. Chris Williams, chair of Friends of the Pulborough Parish Church, spoke about the purpose, aims and achievements of the Friends to date.

The "Strength in Stone, Spirit in Community" campaign is organized by the Friends of Pulborough Parish Church. The aim is to to raise £1 million to repair the exterior of this beautiful 800 year old Grade I listed Church. For more information, including how to join the Friends or make a donation, please visit their website.