THE Friends of St Peter’s, Sibton, in Suffolk, reached a milestone last month, having raised £500,000 over the past 24 years to save lots of their church, which was founded within the twelfth century, in the course of the reign of William II.
In 1997, the longer term of St Peter’s looked uncertain. The options were to remove the roof and shut the church; put the constructing in the marketplace for a token £1; or to boost funds for its repair, with a vision to see what had turn out to be a chapel of ease regain its parish status.
One of the present group of Friends, Andrew Campbell, paid tribute to the primary committee, which had began its campaign with a goal of £50,000 to repair the north aisle roof.
“We’re carrying on their good work as stewards of the constructing,” he said. The group is about to use to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for £300,000 to support and stabilise the medieval roof and repair the resultant damage to the partitions.
In the past quarter-century, the roof has been repaired, stained-glass windows re-laid, flooring stabilised, a contemporary heating system installed, and kitchen and lavatory facilities added. Fund-raising events at the moment are focused on large events, comparable to art exhibitions and live shows, which have increased footfall into the 1000’s. The most up-to-date event, the annual May Bank Holiday book sale, raised an extra £3300.
“If we will manage to do the roof, then I feel we’re setting it up for one more generation not less than,” Mr Campbell said. He acknowledged: “It’s a snakes and ladders thing — something else can come up, and you’re thinking that, how are we going to get through this? But, at present, we do appear to be on something of a roll.”
Succession, though, is on the committee’s mind: it’s an ageing group that may welcome a latest generation of younger people to take up the mantle, he said.
St Peter’s has a small but lively congregation. The Vicar of Yoxmere Benefice, which incorporates St Peter’s, the Revd Timothy Rogers, said: “The Friends committee has such a positive can-do attitude. This is a fantastic church, and, over 24 years, they and others have been doing a tremendous job. They are passionate, consistent, and, most significantly, they manage to make fund-raising fun.”
The Friends committee plans to collaborate with the owners of Sibton Abbey to construct heritage links and hold exhibitions, history days, and tours. They are also in search of input from the community on future uses for the church, including retreats and quiet days.
The Diocesan Advisory Committee secretary for St Edmundsbury & Ipswich, Edmund Harris, said: “The church stays on Historic England’s At Risk register due to the roof; so it’s vital the work to this historically significant constructing is carried out. The Friends group have worked incredibly hard to save lots of the church, and I’m sure their next endeavours will proceed to make an enormous difference.”
