ST Michael’s Church is appealing for help to raise £12,000 to help replace the 71-year old boiler, which is no longer fit for purpose.
On behalf of the church, Ruth Fivash says, “Situated under the tower, at the West End of the church is our boiler room, containing an ancient boiler which provides all our heat for the church radiators.
“This boiler was installed in around 1947, replacing an earlier boiler, but using the existing radiators. At the time, it was fuelled by coal, or coke and had to be lit on a Saturday evening, every week, ready for the Sunday services. The boiler was converted to oil firing as was the fashion in the ‘60s, but oil heating went out of fashion in the ‘70s and our trusty boiler was converted to gas firing, which it still is.
“Unfortunately, unlike a cat, it has run out of lives and the boiler cannot be maintained any more due to its age, and the changing regulations over the years have rendered it obsolete. Without a new boiler, there is the serious danger of the church being unusable for much of the year.
“So, we urgently need to replace it with a modern one. A modern one which will be far more efficient, something nearer 90% compared with the existing 40%.
“We have had an estimate for the new boiler, which will connect to the existing radiator system, and this amounts to some £22,000.
“We have been very fortunate with a legacy which we can use, and a small grant from The Wiltshire Historic Churches which gets us to around half our target. So, allowing for some contingency, we still have to raise at least £12,000.
“We have a gift day planned for Saturday 19th January 10am till 4pm and Sunday 20th January.
“St Michael’s Church lies in the heart of our town and has been a social hub and a centre for worship for centuries. As well as being used on an almost daily basis by parishioners and regular members of the congregation, there are countless weddings, funerals and other major services and occasions involving Melksham people. At the moment St Michael’s is able to remain open for part of almost every day of the year for visitors, who always express their gratitude and pleasure that the church is available. This will not be plausible without heating in the winter months.
“Some interesting facts: Age of boiler – around 71 years; Length of flue – 65 feet; It goes up to the top of the tower, inside a stone chimney, made for the purpose when the tower was constructed in the 1840s.”
