Car park plea for special church event

A BARNSLEY church is to be rededicated on Sunday after a 400,000 restoration but volunteers are needed for one urgent last task ahead of the service.

The bad weather has left the car park at Monk Bretton Methodist Church under a foot of snow and volunteers are being asked to turn out tomorrow to clear it ahead of Sunday’s celebration.

Restoration work on the church, in High Street, has taken more than two years to complete and has seen the building being given a new roof, upgraded kitchens, better access for the disabled, improved meeting rooms and an upgrade to the electrics and heating.

Money for the work has been raised through a series of grants, including 100,000 from the South Yorkshire Community Foundation and 88,000 from the Coalfield Regeneration Trust, with smaller sums from other organisations and additional funds raised by church members.

A spokesman said: “The new car park is covered by a foot of snow making it difficult for people to even get into the church so volunteers are asked to assemble on Saturday, at 10am, equipped with snow clearers or shovels to help.”

The rededication service will start at 10.45am on Sunday.