Weather delays church spire repairs

UNPREDICTABLE weather has caused delays to the repairs of the spire at Christ Church in Shaw.

Work is being carried out to replace the existing shingles that cover the spire with new oak shingles, after it was identified that the spire posed a health and safety hazard.

The repairs were expected to have been completed in February, but unsafe weather conditions have forced the steeplejacks to delay their work. It is hoped that the works will be completed in the next six weeks.

Last week, Reverend Shona Hoad along with churchwarden Susan Evans , ventured to the top of the scaffold and carried out an inspection of the works.

The church is still appealing for help to fund the works. Churchwarden Susan Evans said, “The community was offered the opportunity to sponsor individual shingles and have theirs or their loved-ones’ names written on the shingles and then fixed to the spire, there to remain until time and circumstances dictates.

“The Benefice of Atworth with Shaw & Whitley are still in need of funding to enable this project to be completed before the already defunct boiler that has conked out in Christ Church can be replaced.

“If you would like to have your name or perhaps the name of a loved-one you no longer see, on one of the new shingles, or if you would simply like to donate towards this community project, you can do so by contacting me, either by telephone or text on 07980 549056 or by email swevs@hotmail.co.uk.”

Despite the ongoing works, regular fortnightly services have now resumed at the church with services on the second and fourth Sunday of the month. Services on the first and third Sunday of the month will be held at St Michael’s in Atworth.

Looking to the future, the church will be hosting a year of musical events, titled ‘Sounds of Shaw’.

The church reports, “Over the next 12 months we will be holding five concerts of very varied music, from Bratton Silver Band filling the church with their glorious powerful sound (14th July); Chippenham Male Voice Choir bringing a variety of light-hearted music and humour (14th April); CitySound Voices’ exquisite singing (17th November); Victoria Bolley a local, solo singer, with a varied mix of show and popular music (8th September); and of course, the Military Wives Choir will end our series of concerts with their mix of poignant songs and remembrance (23rd February 2019).

“We start the season with Chippenham Male Voice Choir on Saturday 14th April and tickets for all the concerts will be £10 each concert, or if you fancy all five concerts then we will offer all five for the discounted price of £40.

“So please consider sharing in our celebration. Tickets are available from the ‘Toast Office’, Whitley or for further details or tickets please contact Sue Evans 01225 949911, or Alan Ratcliffe 01225 709221.”