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St Michael's Church Development
 
Click here to keep up to date progress through pictures
Update - 1st March 2009
Bringing St Michael’s into the 21st century  

On Monday, 5th January, St Michael’s Church began work on Stage 1 of an ambitious project of updating and refurbishing the church building.

This is the first major project in the church since Victorian times and by March, all being well, the church should be much more comfortable and convenient.

The main objectives of Stage 1 will be these:

  • The present heating system will be replaced by a new system of radiators and narrow bore pipes with a new gas fired boiler and gas main connection.
  • The new entrance will be opned in the west wall. The font and pulpit have already been repositioned to make way for the new entrance.
  • The former porch will be blocked off and the new disabled toilet installed there.

We’re only £15,000 short of the total cost for this stage of the project.

Watch this space for progress reports of work and fundraising totals. Every little bit helps!

Alternative service arrangements while development work is going on
 
 

ST MICHAEL’S CHURCH DEVELOPMENT FUND – FUNDRAISING 2009 UPDATE 1st MARCH

Nobody passing through Dalston these days can have failed to notice that the St Michael’s Church Development Project is well underway. It is only through the generosity of individuals and organisations within our local community that we have been able to reach this point.

At the Carol Service on Christmas Eve, vicar Steve Carter gave everyone the news that work on the project was due to start on 5th January and set us a challenge.

“We’re only £15,000 short of the total amount we need for this stage of the project,” he said.

It’s only early March and already this year, the Fund has received anonymous donations of £1,880, a grant of £1,000 from the Allchurches Trust and £340 from assorted coffee mornings as well as £149 from the mile of 5ps collection. These amounts, added to a grant of £5,000 by Cumbria Waste Management Environment Trust from the Cumbria Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund and £3,000 from the Carlisle Diocesan Pastoral Fund mean that we’re now only just over £3,600 short of the funds needed for stage 1 of our project.

Fundraising events this year have kicked off with “Beat the post-Christmas blues” coffee mornings in January and February, which look like they’re going to run and run, such has been their popularity. On March 7th, in the Victory Hall, there’ll be a Beetle Drive – fun for all ages, and on 10th May and 7th June our popular Sunday afternoon concerts will restart in St Michael’s.

St Michael’s is the most visible link with our past in this village and we are all custodians of this unique heritage. The people of our community have contributed so many different gifts- of time, of talents, of money- to bring us to the point where we can begin to make our dreams and our plans a reality.

The members of the Development Project Fundraising Committee are grateful for this continuing generosity. Watch this space for further progress on fundraising and on the next stage of the development.

If you’d like to donate, cheques can be made payable to Dalston Parochial Church Council, c/o The Treasurer, Church House, The Square, Dalston, Carlisle CA5 7PJ and cheques or cash can be paid to the Church Development Fund Account at the Cumberland Building Society, Dalston.