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Target hit but Brontë church in £50,000 fresh blow
THE Yorkshire church where literary sisters Charlotte and Emily Brontë are buried has celebrated reaching a fundraising target for desperately-needed repairs – only to be told that another £50,000 was needed for the project.
Leaders at Haworth Parish Church appealed in December for help in reaching a target of £64,000 to secure additional funding of almost £100,000 from Government body English Heritage.
A public appeal was launched at Christmas because the church was still tens of thousands of pounds away from the target.
By Thursday this week – the deadline set by English Heritage – the church and its supporters had managed to reach the target thanks to generous public backing.
Donations had come in from schools, private individuals, local groups and from numerous small-scale events organised by people in Haworth village.
But church leaders received the “gut-wrenching” news just hours later that their target sum was not enough.
The previous target had been an estimate from 2010, according to the church.
It was discovered that the real target was higher when builders’ tenders were examined.
Church secretary John Huxley said English Heritage officials were being “extremely supportive” even though the original deadline had passed.
He said talks would be held shortly to decide a way forward.
“We are talking to English Heritage about what can happen next and the options. They will talk to us next week in detail.
“They are being supportive and recognise that the church has worked extremely hard in raising this money.
“Maybe we could do only part of the work, or we could apply for other funds or get a loan. We don’t know how much time we have or what the conditions are.”
Fund-raising would continue, he said.
The money is for the first stage of a three-stage restoration project.
The first stage is to repair and restore the south roof, which leaks and is causing damage inside the building.
Mr Huxley added: “We were just set to wind fund-raising down but instead we are now stepping it up instead.”
Discovering the fund-raising shortfall was a disappointing moment, he added.
“Gutted, we were absolutely gutted. We were devastated on Thursday.
“But we are going to fight on, we won’t give up now.”
The second stage of the project will see repairs to the north side of the roof. And the final stage will see internal facilities brought up to date, with a new kitchen and toilets.
The originate estimate for the entire project - put at £1.25m - may also have to be revised in the light of new information, said Mr Huxley.
Despite the “bombshell” funding blow, he remains upbeat about the future.
“Raising the money since December was little short of miraculous and has been quite humbling. People have been very kind.
“We have had a number of ladies who have donated £1,000 each and the local school gave £500. We raised about £5,000 through the website and the post.
“Some individuals gave us cheques for several thousand pounds each.”
Donations can be made online at www.haworthchurch.co.uk
Cheques to ‘Haworth Church Restoration Fund’ and send to The Treasurer, 17 North View Terrace, Haworth, BD22 8HJ.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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