Heritage Lottery Fund Award

The ACTnow St Michael’s Church Tower Appeal committee is delighted to announce that it has received initial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for essential repairs to the church tower.

HLF grants are awarded in two phases: a Development Phase, which in our case includes further preparatory and investigative work before the main works to the Church tower can be carried out; and a Delivery Phase, when the main works will be done. During the first phase we will prepare a detailed application for the second phase grant. As long as plans have progressed satisfactorily and according to the original proposal, an award for the second phase will be confirmed.  Our original outline application was for a total grant of over £140,000, and we have been successful in obtaining a first phase grant of £16,600, towards expected costs of £19,656.  We are confident that we shall succeed with our second phase application and that we may be able to begin the main works on the tower in 2018.

We have already raised £20,000 ourselves, from various events, including concerts and talks, and generous donations from a number of sources.  But we will still need to raise up to £50,000 more, so ACTnow will continue with its fund-raising activities for some time yet. 

Several events are already scheduled and being planned for this year, and we look forward to your participation in these.  Additional help would be very welcome, particularly with the organisation and manning of events.

Valerie and Ian Galbraith
Simon's Lee
01798 839 006
valerie@ecomis.com

ACTnow fundraising - update

Much effort, primarily by Jeff Feakins, during autumn 2016 went into preparing a submission to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a major grant towards the total amount needed for the works on the Church tower.  We have applied for a total grant of £150,000.  We expect to know the result of our application in early March.

To meet our target total of £200,000 by autumn 2018, we have to raise £50,000 from other sources.  As of the end of 2016 we had raised £18,700, from events and donations.  This is a highly satisfactory position and we are very grateful to all who have contributed, via donations, support for events, and in planning and assisting with these events.

Several events are already scheduled and being planned for this year, and we look forward to your participation in these.  Additional help would be very welcome, particularly with the organisation and manning of events.

Valerie and Ian Galbraith
Simon's Lee
01798 839 006
valerie@ecomis.com

All Our Yesterdays

Local historian Bob Hutchinson and Janet Kelly gave two brilliant talks about the history of Amberley on 4 November and 2 December: Amberley People in the Past and The Changing Face of Amberley.  The first talk concentrated on the people of the village, and the second on the village itself.  Bob and Janet offered a wonderful double act, with Janet providing very personal observations on individual inhabitants, several of whom were her own ancestors.  A final photograph showed Janet herself as a child, as a bridesmaid at a village wedding.  The church was almost filled on both occasions by very appreciative audiences, including many people from outside the village. Followed by drinks in the church hall, the two talks raised £2,400 for the ACTnow Church Tower Appeal.

 

Many thanks to Fowlers Estate Agents who sponsored the wine. 

The SINGING SALON at Amberley

A gala evening at St Michael's.

An audience of over one hundred enjoyed a wonderful evening of song on 26 November, organised by Averil Sessions and performed by the Singing Salon.  Courtesy of David and Lillis Lyon and Jane Mason, the concert was followed by a live auction and dinner with wine and at Oak Tree House and Amberley House.  In aid of the ACTnow Church Tower Appeal, the event raised over £4,500.

Many thanks to all who contributed to the success of this event.