Fundraisers at Shrewsbury’s civic church have made a plea to the borough council for £100,000 to kickstart a vital £1 million appeal – but it looks set to be knocked back as the request was made too late.
The Friends of St Chad’s Church have written to Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council asking bosses to help with the huge cost of repairs to the church tower.
Cabinet members will discuss whether any money can be given at a meeting on Tuesday, January 13.
A report by council manager Geraint Morgan stated that normally applications for grant aid would be considered by the Capital Projects Board – but due to the large amount of money requested, the lateness of the request and the fact that all capital funds have been allocated, the matter has been brought directly to cabinet.
Fundraisers need to raise around £1 million for urgent repairs to the tower and dome so that the church is kept safe and watertight. The building is the civic church for SABC and is likely to become the civic church for the new Shrewsbury Town Council.
The report said: “The Friends are shortly to launch an appeal but suggests that it would be excellent if it could ‘start off’ such an appeal with a large grant.”
Mr Morgan has recommended the request be referred to the Small Capital Projects Board for consideration.
Andy Goldsmith, assistant council manager, said: “The request has come rather too late. We developed the small capital programme back in Easter 2008.
“We will review at the end of January. If there are any projects that have underspent or are not going ahead then the council may be able to give some money then.”
John Patrick, chairman of the Friends of St Chad’s, said: “We didn’t even know such as fund existed until just before Christmas.” .