Appeal Update: October 2019

Progress since the last update report

 

We have become quite used to seeing our nave full of scaffolding, and we have stopped marvelling at how our conservators manage to climb that ladder carrying two cups of tea! But while we admire the work that they have been doing, we are really looking forward to seeing the scaffolding come down, so that we can see the total effect of the conservation work to the Doom and the ceiling. And the bonus has been the miracle that has been wrought in the Lady Chapel, with one of the Eyre memorials having been cleaned.

There will then be a respite while we enjoy the Christmas Tree Festival, and Christmas itself, before the church is closed in January for the pews to be removed, the woodblock floor cleaned and refurbished, and our new benches and chairs installed, together with our new altar and dais.
We will shortly be launching our ‘Buy a Bench’ campaign, when we will invite members of the congregation (and others) to contribute to our new seating, at the same time offering an opportunity to link such a donation to a significant occasion in the church, or in memory of a loved one.

We are still about £30,000 short of our target for this phase of work, but I am confident that we will fill this gap in the next six months.

 

Recently, we have had two significant fund-raising events. On October 5th, we took over the Guildhall to hold our annual Autumn Fayre. This attracted nearly 500 visitors, who enjoyed making purchases from a wide variety of stalls, and raising £1,700 in the process. Then on Friday October 11th, we were back in the Guildhall for the Auction of Promises, when 85 Promises were auctioned to an audience of 130 people, and this raised more than £8,500 for the Quest 2020 Appeal. Both of these events not only raised money, but were enjoyed by everyone who was there, so they were ‘fun-raising’ as well!

Forthcoming events

 

Saturday 16 November 2019 at 1215 pm – A Benjamin Banks concert

A strings recital with music played on Benjamin Banks’ original instruments. Benjamin Banks was an 18th century violin maker whose workshops were in Catherine Street, Salisbury. He is buried in St Thomas’s South churchyard.

Saturday 23 November 2019 at7.30 pm - Woodfalls Band & Salisbury Chamber Chorus – The Best of Both Worlds

Two of the area’s best known musical groups come together for a very special and unmissable concert. This will be the first concert at St Thomas’s after the scaffolding is removed, so it will be a memorable occasion for performers and audience alike.
Tickets £15 available from www.salisburychamberchorus.org or on the door.

John Bruce-Ball

October 2019
 

Previous Appeal updates:

 

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