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St. Nicholas Church (Click photo for larger view)

Church Tower in urgent need of repair

A fund-raising group has dreamt up the idea of a time capsule to help raise £180,000 to restore its church tower.  The 14th-century tower at St. Nicholas Church, Church Street, Southfleet, is in urgent need of repair because of weathering and erosion.  To help raise funds, villagers have decided to offer fellow residents the chance to place their family history in a time capsule.  For £10 they will be able to put an A4 sheet full of their memories into the time capsule which will be bolted onto the inside of the tower to be opened in 100 years.  This money will help raise £79,000 of the £180,000 total needed to carry out repairs.  The rest of the money will come from an £85,000 English Heritage grant and £16,000 in grants from smaller organisations.

The time capsule is just one of a series of fundraising ideas by the St. Nicholas Tower Appeal by Residents (STAR).  Other events include an art show and an August bank holiday fun day.  The appeal is a joint effort between the village and the church council.  STAR chairman Roger Cowell said: "The appeal wants to give something back to the church after it has helped the community for about 600 years."  The church has a congregation of 140 and holds four services each week.  Church council secretary Jan Becket said: "It's a small village and the church really is the centre of the village.  Most of the folks have been baptised there, they get married there and family members are buried there."  STAR hopes to raise the money by December 23.  The work, which is expected to take 12 weeks to complete, will begin in Spring next year.

Update March 2006:  The Southfleet Parish council have reported that the much needed funds have almost been raised and the work is hoped to start early this summer [2006].  I am sure any and all donations are still needed and will be gratefully received.