Appeal enters second phase (From Keighley News)

Appeal enters second phase

4:00pm Sunday 6th January 2013 in Keighley

Haworth Parish Church’s next major phase of refurbishment work will require another sustained fundraising effort, according to the priest-in- charge.

The Reverend Peter Mayo-Smith said he hoped the momentum achieved by the appeal for the first phase of restoration could be maintained.

He stressed the historic building effectively belonged to everyone in the parish, not just people who regularly attended services there.

Mr Mayo-Smith explained the ongoing drive to fund the renovation was seeking cash to replace the Victorian building’s north-facing roof. St Michael and All Angels Church also needs a replacement heating system.

The estimate for the total cost of new roofing and heating could come to about £250,000.

“This roof work won’t be quite as big a job as we had for the south side roof, as the church tower has been done now,” Mr Mayo-Smith said.

“And once it is finished, it will make the building watertight again.”

He added: “The heating system we have at the moment is a gas boiler. I don’t know exactly how old it is, but it’s pretty ancient and is probably coming towards the end of its life. Also, it isn’t efficient and we’d like something more environmentally-friendly.”

Mr Mayo-Smith said the completion of repairs to the south roof had already had a positive effect, and has protected the building from recent torrential rain. “It’s been nice to be in the church and not have to put buckets out,” he said.

Donations to the renovation appeal can be made by sending cheques – payable to Haworth Church Restoration Fund – to c/o the treasurer, 17 North View Terrace, Haworth BD22 8HJ. People can also donate via the haworthchurch.co.uk website.