Heat is on as Higham Ferrers church challenges congregation to grow a tenner for boiler appeal

Members of a Higham Ferrers worshipping community will be given a ten pound note and be asked to use all their entrepreneurial skills to grow the money for a fundraising appeal.

St Mary's Church in Higham Ferrers has launched the St Mary’s 600 Appeal to mark the six centuries since the Bedehouse was founded by Archbishop of Canterbury Henry Chichele.

Money raised in the Make £10 Grow project will be used to go in the first phase of a bigger appeal to replace the broken boiler as well as repair crumbling stonework, and refurbish the medieval Bedehouse.

A sum of £144,000 is needed to replace the broken heating system with the overall target for the appeal £600,000.

Sue Dennis, the Make £10 Grow project co-leader, said: "It will be a long cold winter this year. The boiler is just blowing out cold air. We need to replace it not only to keep the congregation warm but to protect the building

"It's a bit like The Apprentice. We will give people a ten pound note and they can make it grow by selling cakes to friends, reselling charity shop bargains on eBay or buying craft materials to make items to sell as gifts.

"I'm going to be holding a series of socially-distanced Covid compliant tea parties but any way of growing the money would be great."

The entrepreneurial congregation has until Advent Sunday - November 29 - to bring back the initial ten pound note and their profits to the church.

In the meantime, fundraising committee members will be applying for major grants to continue the work on the medieval spire and stone work on the church front, as well as the funds for the Bedehouse refurbishment.

The Bedehouse was founded by Archbishop Chichele in 1422 and built in the churchyard to house 12 poor men over the age of 50 to live in 'close company' with the support of one woman to look after them.

Sue said: "We have been badly hit by Covid. Last year our angel festival made £8,000 and I wanted to raise £10,000 this year.

"It's an event that draws the whole community together to the church. One of the things we are planning in the longer term is to install a servery in the church so we can provide refreshments so different events can take place.

"We want the whole town to let us know what they would like to see in the church.

"This is a unique set of buildings in Northamptonshire - the church, chapel Bedehouse and cross are like a cathedral close.

"The Bedehouse is the closest thing to a village hall we have and it's always busy."

Founded by a charter of Henry III in about 1220, the church and part of the tower, the nave and the south aisle still remain from the early building which was enlarged over subsequent years.

The church site owes much to Henry Chichele, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1414 to his death in 1443 - the longest serving Archbishop of Canterbury.

Rev Michelle Dalliston, interim vicar of St Mary's Church, said: "Everybody comes here through the course of a year - for weddings, christenings or funerals.

"If we don't get the work done then we won't be able to use the church. Last Christmas it was packed, next year we want them to be back.

"This place is a beacon. The Bedehouse has been here for the community for the past 600 years and we would like it to be here for the next 600."

To join in the Make £10 Grow campaign contact Sue Dennis by emailing [email protected].

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