New parish centre dedicated
St Paul’s new parish centre building in Chichester was dedicated on Sunday 13th June during a ceremony attended by the Bishop of Horsham and the Duke & Duchess of Richmond.
The dedication of the new parish centre is the culmination of a huge fundraising effort by the parish teams with a little bit of help from the diocesan fundraising adviser.
Rev Martha Weatherill was instrumental in the successful fundraising efforts. She said: “We could not have achieved so much if it were not for the wonderful help from the diocesan fundraising adviser, Kathryn Prior. Kathryn gave so much valuable support about which grants to apply for but also set in context with our broader aims for creating a space that is community focused."
The church received £350,000 in grants and fundraising for the building and an extra £50,000 for new staff. The parish centre will now be used to support children, homeless, lonely, isolated, disabled and elderly as a place of sanctuary, and hospitality and welcome to all in the community.
The Duke of Richmond spoke about how St Paul's Church was very special to his father - who dedicated the parish centre when it was newly built some 26 years ago. He said: "I am pleased to support and dedicate the newly refurbished and extended parish centre which is to be used to support the community especially during the pandemic and beyond."
Pictured outside the new centre:
From left: Duke of Richmond, Rector Canon Simon Holland, Duchess of Richmond, Bishop of Horsham