DO YOU LIKE OLD BUILDINGS!
DO YOU WISH TO HAVE A CHURCH IN THE VILLAGE!

St Andrew's Church is Grade I Listed and has been the church in Bulmer from the 12th Century. As with any very old building there is much work required to keep it in good order. The cost to provide services and generally run the church, without carrying out any building work, is over £20,000 per annum. This sum, which does include insurance of the church, is provided by those attending the church and some other people in the village. The Parish Council also provides a grant of £650 towards the grass cutting in the churchyard: this covers about half of the costs and is given as the churchyard is the cemetery for the parish.

Every five years the church has to be inspected by an Architect who details all the work required. The last inspection was in 2008 and the following work, to be completed by 2013, is still outstanding:
Repointing of the tower walls and stonework repairs; internal repairs and decoration within the tower chambers; repairs to the churchyard boundary walls. Total estimated cost £43,000.
In addition further less urgent work (i.e. after 2013) was recommended including:

Repointing of the porch; provision of a lightning conductor; internal plaster repairs and general redecoration work; improved access for the disabled. Total estimated cost at least £26,000.

The church does not have the money to do all these repairs or the future work. We have also recently been given Planning Approval for a much-needed extension to provide toilets, kitchenette, small meeting room, office and storage. This extension would provide access for the disabled. The estimate for this is between £210,000 and £250,000 excluding furnishings.
Many churches have a 'Friends' organisation made up of people in the community who wish to see a church building remain there. They are not necessarily regular churchgoers rather they are people who seek to preserve an historic building in the village and believe that the church should be available for all. Such an organisation can have charitable status and would seek to obtain finance for the works required by applying for grants and undertaking other fund raising activities. Setting up a Friends of St Andrew's Bulmer seems to be a way by which the church building could be maintained and improved for all.

If you are interested in helping to set up a 'Friends' organisation or wish to know more please contact Fr Eoin on 277850, Peter Fulcher on 269935 or Margaret Mills on 269377.