PRESS RELEASE  (our thanks go to Jenny Deighton for the following information)

St Michael’s Church, Upton Warren.

The first stage of the Restoration, Improvement and Development Programme to St Michael’s Church, Upton Warren is complete. The wall panels, Aisle and Chancel floors and under-floor joists, so badly affected by damp rot and beetle infestation, have been replaced and repaired and, whilst the floor was up, an under-floor ventilation system installed to deter rot in the future. The floor has been relayed flat (without the previous step) to be more people friendly. The balcony stairs have been moved to provide space under the balcony where a toilet, with disabled facilities, has been installed. The improvements and developments have been blended into the existing décor, so that the ambience of St Michael’s continues as a small, gentle, light and welcoming place. The country village Church.

This work has been completed well ahead of the expected schedule because of the enthusiastic support of the Parish Community and Congregation in Fund Raising; financial support in the form of generous grants by the Historic Churches Preservation Trust*, the Worcester and Dudley Historic Churches Trust, the Garfield Weston Foundation and the Alan Evans Memorial Trust; and Financial Assistance by the Diocese in the form of a two year interest free loan.

The second stage of the programme of work, to provide a community space which will meet the requirements of the people living in the Parish and the congregation of St Michael’s, Upton Warren, is significant Improvement and Development. We plan to fit a wood and glass screen in the archway between the Aisle and the Vestry. This will not only make the church warmer, it will also create a room for small meetings. We will fit new cupboards in the Vestry and a new drinks service facility, which will include a sink. At the same time the Altar platform is to be enlarged.

The original programme of work was planned over five years, to allow time for steady Fund Raising. Because the first stage has been completed ahead of schedule the general consensus is to keep the job rolling with the hope that all the work can be completed by the end of this summer; under two and a half years. The issue which confronts us is - if we are speeding up the work, can we speed up the Fund Raising to match the work?

St Michael’s has been the focal point in the village for over eight centuries, providing its own particular space for the local community. The Local Community and Congregation together drew up the programme of work firstly to make essential repairs and then taking the opportunity provided by the work to introduce Improvements and Developments to make St Michael’s appropriate to the needs of the Parish of Upton Warren. We need just few thousand pounds to complete the work. We are seeking the support of local Residents and Businesses, in the form of Donations, to raise the monies required to finish the job.

Jenny Deighton
Churchwarden, St Michael’s, Upton Warren.

*The Historic Churches Preservation Trust.

· HCPT is the only national charity offering funds to communities for essential repairs to the fabric of churches and chapels in England and Wales, regardless of denomination and grade. · It was founded in 1953, and has since awarded £23.1 million in approximately 11,000 grants. · It receives no financial assistance from either government or church authorities. · HCTP survives entirely on voluntary contributions.

• The trust receives approximately 1,800 enquiries per year, and 400 applications, giving 350 grants in an average year.
• The estimate of total eligible repairs required to churches is £55 million per year
• The average cost per church in 2002 was £104,000, (up £22,000 in 4 years)
• 38% of communities applying to HCPT have a total population of less than 500.
• The average grant awarded by HCPT in 2002 was £6,000, and the total given out in grants and loans was just over £1.5 million to 273 churches.

How can we help?

·Become a Friend of HCPT. (Application forms in all three churches)

• Send a donation.
• Remember HCPT in your will.

Jenny Deighton

On Wednesday the 14th December the congregation, villagers and friends met for carols by candle light followed by a mince pie and a glass of mulled wine to celebrate the re-opening of St Michael's Church.
 

The church, lit by many candles and beautifully decorated, was a credit to all those who had worked so hard to get it ready.  The evening started with the Rector giving a brief description of the work carried out, this includes the creation of sturdy foundations to support and ventilate the new oak floor and replacement, again in oak, of parts of the panneling on the interior south wall.  Following this a lovely hour was spent singing carols, lead by the choir, and interspersed by two Christmas poems and a Bible reading.  At the end of the evening mince pies and mulled wine was handed around whilst people took the chance to catch up with friends.