Lots more lots needed for St John's Church auction

Buy photos » Rev Chris Wingfield with Jayne Sallis St John’s churchwarden Shan Moule and Landmark II fund-raising committee member Jo Hackett.

THE ORGANISERS of an auction to raise funds for Bromsgrove’s St John’s Church have appealed for donations.

Cash collected at the sale at St John’s Middle School on October 19 will go to the historic church’s Landmark II appeal. The first phase of that is aimed at raising £100,000.

The campaign was started to pay for a new roof and heating system for the 356-year-old building, which had suffered seven lead thefts in just six months.

The Standard reported back in May how St John’s became the first Grade 1 listed building in the country to have the roof replaced with Glassfibre Reinforced Polyester (GRP), but the work and materials had to be paid for from the church’s emergency reserves.

The Landmark II appeal currently stands at £36,000.

Among the lots already in the line-up for the evening are a piece of metalwork art by Adam Barrett, passes to Cadbury World, Avoncroft Museum and Hatton Country World, two tickets to an organ gala performed by the Royal Philamonic Orchestra at Birmingham Symphony Hall, bed and breakfast at Bromsgrove’s Hilton Hotel and a private tour of Worcester Cathedral’s medieval library.

There are also tickets to the St John’s Christmas Concert. tickets to its new year’s eve party and the ‘Choir in your Close’ lot which will see the St John’s Church Choir go around to the winner’s street and perform Christmas carols.

Landmark II fund-raising team member Jo Hackett said: “We have already had a number of items donated, but we need more.”

A jazz band will be performing on the evening and the organisers are also looking an auctioneer to take up the gabble.

Tickets for the event, which include a reception glass of cava, canopes and the entertainment, are £7.50 each.

For more, to donate lots, or to buy tickets, call the St John’s parish office on 01527 878801 or e-mail jojo.hackett@googlemail.com

Regional news »