Whitwell Parish Church of St Mary & St Rhadegund
Community Development
We want to install a kitchen and toilet to enable us to serve the community better, enhance existing events and develop outreach.
About this cause
We are a C of E parish church in a landmark corner position at the very heart of our tiny village of 383 dwellings, and we help our community. We host the village Post Office twice a week; one of the first churches in the country to do so. We hold several concerts and meals a year, including a Crib Service on Christmas eve, with animals brought in for a blessing, a Strawberry Tea each July, and the Well Dressing in August. They bring in lots of people from the community. We are a busy church, open 366 days a year for weekly worship, weddings, baptisms and funerals. Our team of eight bellringers ring every Sunday, and for special services. Our objective is to improve the quality of life for our villagers, combat rural isolation, and welcome everyone to come inside and share.
How this cause brings people in the community together
We already need both facilities most days of the week, for existing regulars such as Post Office, Coffee mornings, bell ringers, monthly Beat Bobby visit etc. Without facilities, we have to restrict events, but we could develop sustainable outreach and much wider community inclusion if we had a kitchen and toilet. Our 3 qualified caterers plan a Lunch Club, Quiz Nights, and social gatherings.