Suckley Church has been shortlisted for a National Churches Trust award in the Church & Community Volunteers category – run with the Marsh Charitable Trust.
This award celebrates the contribution made by volunteers in churches across every corner of the UK and their dedicated work which helps to keep churches open and at the heart of communities.
St John the Baptist in Suckley has been nominated for its volunteers, especially its SPACE volunteers. SPACE is the community charity through which the church works in partnership with the school and local community so that the church building is used as a multi-purpose hub in the scattered rural village. With heating and WiFi, as well as disabled access, the school, Citizens Advice Bureau and community projects all make use of the space, which brings people together to help reduce rural isolation.
The SPACE volunteers host an annual BFG Fest (Beer Food and Gifts Festival) at the church, which is a celebration of Suckley produce and talent at Harvest time. It gives Suckley organisations, producers and businesses the opportunity to 'show off' what there is to discover and what is happening locally and there are free children’s activities and a full live music programme. Other community initiatives have included ‘tech support lessons’, the inaugural Suckley quarter marathon (raising over £2,000), an annual Ceilidh, Community Orchestra and a Good Neighbour scheme with weekly Warm Welcome sessions. SPACE has also raised over £300,000 towards the church reordering project.
Churchwarden Anne Lewis said: “We are delighted to have been recognised by the National Churches Trust for the amazing work of our SPACE volunteers. Our church provides a spiritual presence in its local community, but also so much more. SPACE has enabled the church to be much more useful to its community and thereby we hope to reach out more effectively to those living in Suckley. The building is now used daily by church, school and community. Our volunteers love bringing a smile to local folk who may be lonely and/or isolated as they help to bring positive change to people's lives. They genuinely enjoy working together for the benefit of their community, and so themselves benefit from the encouragement it brings.”
The National Churches Trust Awards will be held on Monday 6 November.
