Development

St Johns from Durham RoadWe are deeply committed to the people of Sparkhill and are developing our resources to better serve the local community in the 21st century.

 

Renovation work has recently been undertaken creating new community facilities at the west end of the church building, these will be used extensively by the Charity Narthex Sparkhill which is based at St John's.

These renovated rooms together with our hall on St John's Road provide some of the best community facilities in Sparkhill.

Our next major step is the replacementof the roof over the central part of the west end of the church. English Heritage have recognised the importance of the building and have awarded us a grant which will cover about two thirds of the cost of the first stage of our roof replacement however we still need to raise almost another £100,000 to complete this and install insulation. 

A further application has been submitted to English Heritage for funding towards the completion of the replacement of the remainder of the roof and insultation. If this and other funding is raised then this work could start early in 2011.

 

So we need your generous support

  • We are a vibrant multi-ethnic congregation
  • A good many of the congregation are new immigrants or are retired people on a low income
  • We are UPA (Urban Priority Area) Church.
  • We are in one of the 4% most deprived neighbourhoods in the UK
  • we are within the area with the second highest number of children under 5 years of age living in poverty 
  • Most of the residents of our parish are Muslim (we have the second largest number of Muslims residents of any parish in the UK)

The recent grant from English Heritage for the first stage of our roof repairs is a wonderful start on which we can build. We are currently working on a number of things to try and raise the additional funds needed.

  • We are applying to many trusts and charities who give money for repairs to listed places of worship.
  • We have published a 47 page colour brochure "St John's Past, Present and Future" which we are selling for £8.50 each in aid of the Appeal. All donars of £100 or more will receive a free copy of this brochure.
  • We are preparing fund raising events.
  • We have formed a partnership with Charitygiving.co.uk who support charities by handling online and other donations. (see link below)

Because the roof is so large we are planning on replacing it in two phases. Phase one will be the nave and half the north and south transepts, phase two will be the remainder of the roof. Work on Phase one will start in March 2010 and is will take about six months to complete. Funding permitting we hope to start work on phase two early in 2011. 

 

Donate on line now

Many thanks to the following Trusts, businesses and organisations who have kindly contributed to the Development Fund.

Allchurches Trust Limited

Bernard Piggott Trust

Bewley Charitable Trust

Cliff Richard Fan Club Birmingham Meeting House

Cook & Wolstenholme Charitable Trust

Cornerstone (National Churches Trust)

English Heritage

Garfield Weston Foundation

George Henry Collins Charity

Greet & District Residents

Grimmitt Trust

Indestructible Paint

Lady Neville Charity

Manifold Trust

SITA

Sparkhill Trust

Stephen Clark 1957 Charitable Trust

William Adlington Cadbury Charitable Trust

Wilmcote Charitrust

 

If you represent a trust, business or organisation that is considering making a donation to this appeal please contact the Development Organiser or phone the Church Office which is open Tuesday to Friday between 9.30am and 4.00pm and ask to speak to John or Nigel. 01217531415