Photographers from the Lechlade Photographers Club are to put on a day of photography workshops, focusing on mobile phone photography in support of raising funds for St Marys Church in Kempsford to install a much needed toilet that will be accessible for all, along with a kitchenette and an overhaul of the heating to make it more eco friendly.
Speaking to Ann O’Hara, she said: “I became involved in the fundraising after the funeral of a young lady biker who had skidded on a patch of oil on her way home. Over 100 people attended. Luckily, a friend of mine was renting the Parsonage, so we had a constant stream of mourners going from the church to the Parsonage to use the loo.
When people arriving for baptisms, weddings and funerals frequently ask if we have any facilities they can use, we unfortunately have to say we don’t have any. We did a fundraising concert for Ukraine, many people from the village and surrounding area packed out the church, but we lost a significant number at the interval as we had no facilities to take them through to the second half”.
Each year the church has raised money specifically to increase the funds ready for planning approval and quotes. Speaking to the Rev’d Catie Watson, she said the expected cost for the work needed could be around £250,000. Once go ahead from the ‘Parochial Church Council’ is confirmed, the church will be able to put out to tender and formally be able to set up funding platforms such as the likes of ‘GoFund Me’.
So far, the church has produced a Recipe Book, a Calendar, put on a number of concerts and the now annual Gifts & More Christmas Fair. Myra Shepard (also on the PCC) along with Ann O’Hara have been the ‘Fundraising Team’ for a number of years, putting lots of work into achieving their goal which is in its final stages of planning, under the Diocesan advice and guidance.
In the meantime, the church has a number of fundraising events coming up, including Pimms & Hymes and a ‘Smart Phone Photography Workshop’ put on by members of the Lechlade Photography Club, offering up their knowledge to get the most from your camera phones and taking fantastic images.
The church of St Mary the Virgin, Kempsford is noted as one of the Cotswolds oldest and beautiful churches and celebrated by Sir John Betjeman. The National Heritage list for England places St Mary’s as a Grade 1, with the church dating back to 12th Century with the 1120 Norman eight bay nave from that date surviving along with the north and south doorways.
Walking down the nave towards the chancel, the list of vicars of Kempsford dates from the 4th vicar 1196. The chancel with wagon roof was added in 13th century, with work on the three stage tower completed in 15th century.
The north porch was built circa 1520 and the oldest of the church bells dates back to 1678. Extensive Victorian restoration to the interior includes the glass in both the Clerestory and lights by celebrated Victorian Charles Kempe, dating from 1892 and the glass in the large north tower window. The clock was installed in 1885 and, through regular maintenance, still works today. The roof was also extensively repaired during this period.
Today, visitors from across the UK and beyond are drawn to the church by the variety, beauty and intricacy of the glass windows and the ornate splendour of the tower, renovated in 2009 with the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Ann O’Hara said: “St Mary’s is far more than a beautiful attraction to our village. The work of the church in the community means that St Mary’s is at the heart of our community, used for regular church services, indoor/outdoor Family Services and baptisms, weddings, funerals, special services, concerts and charity fund raising.
One example is the request from a villager for St Mary’s to organise and host a Concert for Ukraine. The extensive use of our church underpins our recognised need to provide a toilet, accessible for all, improved more environmentally friendly heating, and a small kitchenette. A 21st century development which will respectfully retain and celebrate the historic beauty of our church”.
To book onto the photography courses, call: 07760 272 224
Entertainment Swindon 
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