Village's £5,000 appeal for church repair
A village has launched an appeal to raise £5,000 to repair its church bell tower.
Parishioners of St John the Baptist Church in Slitting Mill, near Rugeley, have raised about £85 towards the fund and are going to appeal to the lottery fund.
The bell has not been used for several months as the tower has been damaged by the weather over the years and needs repair.
Sheila Simpson said: "We have started a fund for the tower which stands at £85 at the moment and we intend to appeal to the lottery fund for help but we need to find other support for the preservation of this small gem of a building in the heart of the Chase.
"The church is semi detached though the original cottage has long disappeared and replaced by a modern house.
"The bell was originally attached to the cottage chimney but in 1972 the area was redeveloped and a bell tower was built as well as a new porch and the bell rehung.
"The bell had been given to the church by Mr. C. S Whieldon of Hagley Hall now demolished and had hung in the stables at the hall.
"We started fundraising earlier in the summer but we haven't really started until now.
"We appealed to the lottery before but we were too late so we're going to apply again.
"We want to raise as much money as possible.
"The person who pointed out the problems was most concerned that if there was a heavy wind it could all come down.
"We have put a notice up saying do not ring this bell."
Coffee mornings are held every month on the first Wednesday of the month at 10.30am.
Anyone interested in the church is welcome and the funds raised at the next event on August 7 will be shared by the general fund and the bell fund.
Sheila added: "Please help us to retain this gem of the past village life as well as giving it a continued life in the community."
