Bishop Blesses New St. Michaels Hall

The Bishop of Kensington formally blesses Bedford Park's new community centre but £100,000 still needs to be raised to pay for its construction.

The Bishop of Kensington, the Rt Reverend Michael Colclough, came to St Michael & All Angels church in Bedford Park on Sunday (February 4th) to bless its newly restored Parish Hall. Parishioners held candles during the blessing, to mark the Feast of Candlemas, and afterwards the Bishop chatted with many of them over coffee.

The Hall was opened last month with a party for those who had helped realise the £500,000 project, and is now open for bookings. An Open Day the previous Saturday was attended by dozens of local people, for whom it will provide a new community centre.

The capacity of the Hall has been doubled by adding an extra floor. The redevelopment has provided a light and airy first-floor hall, ideal for receptions, plays, concerts, charitable events and educational activities - as well as two interconnecting halls on the ground floor. They will be available for hire at competitive rates. There is also a new Parish Office, and the kitchen and toilet facilities have been greatly improved.

The imaginative design - by local architects Oliver West and John Scott - has produced a modern and versatile interior while retaining and restoring all the important original features. The exterior has been preserved in all its unique splendour. The building project co-ordinator was Andrew Pears and the work was carried out by Contrad Construction Ltd of Sunbury.

Though the Hall is now open, the Parish Hall Appeal continues to
raise money for it. "We've raised £400,000 already, and we're very grateful to all those people who have contributed" said Mary Pears, who chairs the Appeal Committee. "But we still need a further £100,000 - and we hope that now people can see what it's all been in aid of, they will be inspired to give more money and encourage others to do so."

Last month a party was held in the new Hall for more than 350 local people who helped realise the £500,000 project. Building work was completed just before Christmas, on time and on budget. "It was a great party - the first of many that will be held in the Hall over the coming years" said the vicar, the Reverend Kevin Morris.

"This is a marvellous building that is now available to the whole community for a wide range of uses, from celebration to education. We've already got our first bookings from schools, and for our first wedding reception, children's parties and charity fund-raising events."

HISTORY OF THE HALL
St Michael and All Angels Parish Hall (or Parish Room, as it was originally called) was designed in 1884 by Bedford Park architect Maurice B. Adams, St. Michael's first churchwarden. It was completed in 1887. A fund was set up to raise money for the Parish Room, through events such as a three-day "Garden Fete and Fancy Fayre" in June 1886, under the patronage of HRH The Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck. For many decades the hall was a thriving centre hosting concerts, tea dances, lectures, and sales of work. It was also home to Girls and Boys Brigades, and later, to Scouts, Guides and amateur dramatics groups. The Parish Hall had decayed into a terrible state - dilapidated and uninviting. Yet it is the only public building for communal use in the area. Redevelopment has been vital to meet the evolving needs of the community.

THE APPEAL
The Church says a big 'thank you' for all the many who have contributed. The fund raising campaign has brought in £400,000 so far, but the remainder is still needed. Everyone within St Michael's Church community has worked extremely hard in reaching the current figure, and the time has now come to look to the wider community, which stands to benefit greatly from this highly versatile facility - unique in the area.

HOW PEOPLE CAN HELP
For those who pay UK tax there are various ways in which a donation can be worth more to the scheme. The ultimate success of the Appeal depends on local generosity and enthusiasm. Individual donations of whatever size are vital, and the church is grateful for whatever support, financial or otherwise, people can give.

Any enquiries about making a donation or taking a Deed of Covenant should be made to Anne Mower at the Parish Office on 020-8994-1380 or to Jane Lenton on 020-8995-1862 or email: jane.lenton@virgin.net