Southampton church needs £250,000 to protect it for the future

The congregation at St Michael and All Angels Church in Bassett Avenue, Southampton, are trying to raise £250,000 for vital repairs to the church fabric.

Parish priest Stephen Holmes said there were a host of problems to fix at the Victorian church, from the roof to the walls.

Father Holmes said: “The roof has been totally ignored over the years and water is coming in everywhere. We have never been able to afford to address the issues and it means the plaster inside the church is coming off. One wall has been bare for six years.

“Luckily we have raised enough money to tackle the roof now but that is not the end of it and we must keep going because we need £250,000 to do everything.”

The appeal has raised more than £110,000 so far, with a £93,000 Government grant providing the bulk of the cash and £16,000 raised by worshippers over the past four months.

Father Holmes said: “We are terribly excited that we have raised £110,000 so far, but we still need to kick on to reach our target.

“It’s a fantastic effort and it has galvanised the whole parish with a sense of enthusiasm but we have to keep the momentum going.”

He added: “I must thank churchwarden David Curtis for his considerable contribution to this campaign, in particular the applications for charitable donations.”

Paddy Paddon-Row, of Chilworth, has been attending the church for three years and said the whole congregation was behind the efforts. She added: “We felt so welcomed when we came to this church and the music is fantastic.

It’s important we do this as these issues have been going on for a long time but we are all getting behind the cause and we have organised a number of great events.”

• The church is hosting a talk called Silk Stockings and Spitfires on Saturday, April 18, highlighting the vital work women pilots contributed to the air transport auxiliary during the Second World War.

It takes place St Michael’s Hall and entry costs £10 including a light supper.

For more information on other events including concerts and cake sales, or to make a donation, contact the parish office on 023 8098 2836 or visit nsab.org.uk.