A GOOD YEAR!
On 15th October 2009, Phase One of the Church of the Annunciation Appeal was launched with the objective of raising £50,000. This was needed in order to install a Sound System and a Loop for the Deaf as well as constructing interior glass doors at the main entrance of the Church. All this is seen as part of a policy for opening up the church as an oasis for refreshment and renewal to all who would wish to avail themselves of hallowed space for quiet, reflection, prayer and worship.
The Amplification System is now installed and works very well indeed, not only during times of worship, but also on other occasions when the church is being used. Approval for the Faculty for the Glass Doors has now been granted and the doors might well be manufactured and installed by the end of the year.
The Good News to date, is that by July 2010 we have raised £44,000 and that together with two remaining events as planned and as set out below, we shall reach our target and possibly a bit more by October 21st on the ‘A Musical Evening of Celebration’ (again see below for details), which will wind up the year in which what we planned has been wonderfully accomplished.
It needs to be said however, that this has only been possible because of the great generosity of so many friends and supporters throughout the past year. The planning Committee under the Chairmanship of Michael Gray – the General Manager of the Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill in Portman Square – has worked very hard with all the detailed planning and outreach involved in such a campaign. Mr Duncan Sandys the former Mayor of the City of Westminster together with the Portman Estate have encouraged everyone involved by their generous involvement. The congregation, under the leadership of the Wardens, have raised monies through their on-going sale of many gifts donated by friends and well-wishers.
The Musical Extravaganza on April 20th with its star-studded cast together with Michael Portillo as the presenter was a great success in every way. Donations, together with the sale of tickets, raised £12,000 in one evening. All this was made possible once again by all the help and support of the Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill who not only hosted the Reception with Wine and splendid canapés but who also provided back-up staff to make sure that the whole evening ran smoothly with what proved to be a remarkable spirit of fun and entertainment. Everybody who came, left feeling they had had their monies’ worth and so much more.
CLOSING THE GAP!
We are now confident that with the continuing support of the many friends and well-wishers of this modest campaign the remaining money of £6,000 or so will be raised from these two events.
FASHION FAIR
A fashion fund raiser is scheduled for Wednesday 22 September, to coincide with London Fashion Week and the Portman Village Street Fair. The aim is to source ‘high-end’ clothing from various West End suppliers and hold a sale at the Annunciation during the day. The event will end with an auction in the evening of the most exclusive items. We are looking for a number of things; contributions of good condition designer cast-offs, volunteers to help and contributions of refreshments, if you can help in any way please contact Laurie at laurielaird@btinternet.com
‘THESE YOU HAVE LOVED’ - An Evening of Celebration in Music and Song
On October 21st at 7.00pm Bishop Michael Marshall, together with a group of Musical Friends, will provide an evening of popular classics and well-loved songs, to celebrate and to mark the completion of the first phase of the appeal and to thank so many, who by their support and generosity, have made the appeal such a success.
Tickets will be available to purchase at a cost of £25 from the beginning of September.
Put the date in your diary now!
TOWARDS THE BIGGER PICTURE
In the earlier part of this year, the Portman Estate generously undertook the cleaning of the Lady Chapel window – inside and out – together with the cleaning and re-facing of the brickwork and stonework surrounding the East entrance to the Church. The result is outstanding and quite breath-taking, as it reveals something of how magnificent the whole exterior of the church building would have appeared when it was first completed in 1914.
Since the church building has been opened up throughout the week, so many visitors who have come into the church, are astounded that a church which presently looks somewhat forbidding outside, nevertheless houses such a magnificent interior. All this necessarily prompts us to hope that one day – possibly even before the Centenary in 2014 – the whole exterior of this listed building, cleaned, re-faced and lit, will take its worthy place in the Portman Estate and the surrounding area.
We are inviting interest in this whole project from the shops, hotels and residents from within the parish as well as from the many well-wishers further afield, who are willing either financially or in kind, to support the First Phase Appeal in any way.
If you feel you can help please contact our vice chairman Laura Royde, at the church or at lroyde@gmail.com
Bishop Michael Marshall
SUMMER 2010