Keeping faith in fundraising has paid of for Southam congregation

And they have double reason to celebrate – a new minister has been appointed to Southam Congregational Church after a gap of five years.

The congregation, which averages between 25-35 on Sundays, was faced with raising £90,000 for the work on the imposing Grade II-listed building in Wood Street.

Built in 1839, inspections revealed that its front wall was leaning out, leaving a gap and allowing rain to get in.

Church secretary David Hudson said they applied for grants, which included £10,000 each from Southam Town Council and the Rugby Group Benevolent Fund.

Grants also included £1,400 from the Old Churches Trust, £2,500 from Warwickshire and Coventry Historic Churches Trust and £3,000 from South-west Midlands Area Congregational Federation.

Mr Hudson said that left £30,000 to come from fundraising and the remainder to come from its reserves.

He said: “People have been so generous with their money and their time for us and it was not just the congregation that raised it. People in the town have been very generous and supported us and we are very thankful. We started fundraising in faith that the money would come in and it did.”

It started 18 months ago and events included a skittles evening, cake and coffee events, a Burns Night, sponsored bike rides and choirs.

The Rev Neil Chappell and his wife Debby, a senior teaching assistant, have moved to Southam after 20 years at an Oldham church.

Mr Chappell, aged 48, said: “The congregation has done a magnificent job being without a minister. It’s not my job to take over from them but more to supplement them. There’s a good mix of ages, from young families to elderly members.”

Mr Chappell, who drew 48 to his first Southam service, has over the years had his leg pulled on numerous occasions about his Christian name and surname being appropriate for a minister.