Impressed by regular updates and presentations from the Rochester team on our strategic approach, Marshalls Charity, who support our Missional Property Fund, invited us to access £100,000 in 2021.
A number of projects came to fruition during the year or had money released.
St John’s Church, Sidcup, were delighted to finally have running water, step-free access, toilets, and a servery, among a number of other improvements. Their Access4All building project began last year and was finally completed this year. The Rev Cathy Knight Scott said:
“It is important to all of us at St John’s Sidcup that everyone is welcome. Many pop in for times of quiet reflection, to admire the architecture, or just a sit down and rest on the way home from the shops. However, our facilities were sadly lacking.”
The improvements were achieved with the hard work and donations of many people, including local schools, residents – as well as £20,000 from the Diocesan Missional Property Fund supported by Marshalls Charity.
“The diocesan team – particularly Sarah Anderson, DAC Secretary – were immensely helpful” says Cathy, “especially when the inevitable queries in any large building project arose and we are grateful for her assistance – especially and expediting quick responses to thorny issues.”
As a result of the work, the church is now able to run a successful Place of Welcome and many other events- for example, a ‘meet and greet’ for refugees from Ukraine and other countries with local service providers such as citizens advice, NHS, job centre, foodbank, local council and much more.”
At St Edmund, Dartford, an award of just over £4,000 helped with the purchase and installation of a set of blinds.
Being a large green and glass structure has at times, not made the church as hospitable as the team would like, as the Rev Mandy Young, Priest-in-Charges explains:
“It can get unbelievably hot, even in the mornings, during summer. The blinds, which we simply couldn't afford ourselves, have made the space feel gentler and less exposed to the sun and heat.
That means it is cooler and more welcoming both for the congregation and other users. It also means that we can have shade for the use of the screen and projector - an asset we couldn't make full use of before.”