Status update for the Dig Deep Fund at the end of March 2026: Total raised by the generous support of parishioners and friends so far : £60,000. Thank you, everyone!

We have therefore now been able to install the substantial scaffolding to stabilise the building and have been able to return to using the building since Easter Day. Work on the Garden of Rest has also been done so real progress has been made. This means we have spent everything raised so far and also managed at this mid April stage to raise £9,000 towards the underpinning cost of  £100,000 needed to complete the essential external structural repairs.  We are looking forward to our June fundraising event: A neighbour is very generously opening her garden at 17 Hayes Close on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June both days 2-5 pm. A spectacular small garden with all monies raised going to our church appeal. 

Also coming soon:  June:open garden see above.  In July we are running a stall at the St Michael's Primary School Summer Shindig. Another Barn Dance is in the planning for September

Our Recipe Book, crammed with lots of delicious ideas, fully illustrated, lies flat for use in the kitchen still available for £10. You can drop into church on Sunday mornings or Wednesday mornings or Thursday afternoons to obtain your copy.  If you need to remind or inform yourselves about why all this is necessary please read on...

Can you help?

St Michael’s & All Angels New Marston is a well-known local landmark, as a place of worship and community asset.  It’s been a welcoming space for many throughout its 70 years.  Over time we’ve extended its resources, so that now a wide variety of local groups can use the Pastoral Centre, with its well-appointed hall & kitchen, and the upstairs offices.  Hundreds of people come into the buildings for a host of different reasons: regular worship, baptisms/christenings, weddings, funerals, the Garden of Rest, and the special joyful celebrations at Christmas and Easter and St Michael’s School Services.  And, of course, all the social get-togethers: ballet schools, music groups, Keep-Fit, barn dances, plays, concerts and many, many, more.

We have recently refurbished the front steps, installed handrails and repainted the entrance room (funded solely by the generous giving of the Sunday congregation). We are working towards more provision and welcome for our community for the next 70 years.  But, alas, we also need to do some urgent and essential repairs on the foundations of the church building – they are beginning to collapse!  The church building is under serious threat.  It’s being monitored regularly by a structural engineer but we have had to install some expensive supportive scaffolding until we are able to pay for the repairs.  The problem is one common to many buildings in these days of highly changeable weather: recent very hot, dry periods have caused the original buttressing system to fail.  We urgently need to be underpinned; our insurance doesn’t cover it, and although we have some financial reserves they are nowhere near enough to meet the bill.  The underpinning will cost at least £100,000 to fix.  The emergency scaffolding has already cost a further £57,000. Please would you help us to save St Michael’s Church?

You can donate directly from the website homepage - thank you for supporting us and our wider community.