St John's Church Preservation Group news

Members of St John's Church Preservation Group aiming to save and restore St John's Church, Kates Hill are overjoyed following the news that a grant of £5000 from the Church Urban Fund has been approved which will go towards the cost of the essential feasibility study 'The Future For St John's Church', which engages specialist architects and community consultation experts to establish a sustainable future for the 170 year old Grade II listed building and includes assessing local demand for the church to be re-opened as an Anglican place of worship.
This means that grants totalling £12,000 have now been approved towards the initial appeal for £31,000 which was made up of £5000 for a new Lightning Conductor, £16,000 for waterproofing works and £10,000 for the feasibility study. The new grant means that Preservation Group funds formerly allocated to the feasibility study can now be used towards the waterproofing.
A grant of £5000 was recently approved by Dudley Council Central Dudley Area Committee for the Lightning Conductor, and a grant of £2000 was also recently granted by the Diocese of Worcester towards the feasibility study. Deb Brownlee chair of the Preservation Group "We have been working closely with the church authorities through the St John's Church Steering Group chaired by Archdeacon of Dudley Fred Trethewey and the grants now approved along with £14,000 we have raised to date means that we are now just a tantalising £5000 away from getting the restoration work started. We urge our supporters not only to share in our joy at receiving such magnificent help both from Dudley Council and the Church authorities but also to help us with a big push now to get this last few thousand in so that work can start. What a day it will be when the scaffolding goes up!"
Archdeacon Fred Trethewey says: “I am delighted that the Church Urban Fund has awarded the PCC of St John’s a grant of £5000 towards the costs of a feasibility study on the future of St John’s Church building. This is in addition to a grant of £2000 which has been made through the Diocese of Worcester. It will enable the Steering Group to progress its investigation into future possibilities and also enable funds to be released to carry out repairs on the building”. Patron of the group Dr Carl Chinn, "This shows just what incredible results can be achieved with a combination of support from local people and partnership working. I call on the people of the Black Country to throw their full weight behind the St John's Church Preservation Group and make sure that this last £5000 is raised in record time."
Anyone wishing to help can send donations to St John's Church Preservation Group, The Old School House, St John's Road, Kates Hill, Dudley, DY2 7JT. Donations of tombola prizes especially bottles and unwanted gift sets are also desperately needed and can be brought to the Preservation Group stall on Dudley Market any Saturday or to their new drop in centre in the Old School House which is open Monday to Friday.

Supporters can also run or jog to help raise funds at the Kates Hill Fun Run, organised by the St John's Church Preservation Group as part of the St Thomas's Community Games Programme and taking place on Wednesday 7 July on Green Park, Kates Hill. The run consists of up to 8 laps of the park, total distance just over 2 miles. Entry costs £2 for adults and £1 for children. Registration starts from 5pm on the day and the run starts at 7pm. Anyone who can obtain further sponsorship can get a sponsorship form from savestjohnschurch@hotmail.co.uk or by calling into the drop in centre. Telephone contact number is 0787 119 5042. There will be catering on site and anyone running in fancy dress will receive a small extra prize. All proceeds will go towards the church waterproofing appeal.
Supporters are also encouraged to collect their loose change and organise any other events they can eg coffee mornings and jumble sales to help raise funds. More information about the work of the Preservation Group can be found on http://www.savestjohnschurch.zoomshare.com/or by visiting the group on their Dudley Market Stall every Saturday. Donations can be sent to St John’s Church Preservation Group, The Old School House, St John’s Road, Dudley, DY2 7JT.