A RETREAT house on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne has launched an appeal to lift funds for urgent repair work to maintain it open.
Marygate House has been serving visitors to the island since 1970, when it was bought as a non-profit-making retreat house by the then Vicar of Holy Island and a few residents. It is now run by a small trust, and welcomes 1000’s of individuals annually, including individuals in quest of rest and solace, and parish and group retreats.
But the battering winter winds and rain have taken their toll, and the property is now affected by extensive damp, which suggests that several of the nine bedrooms can’t be used for guests.
The Revd Frances Wilson, a former parish priest on Tyneside, became Warden of Marygate last yr. She said: “The particularly bad weather and storms experienced this winter has meant the outside render has cracked and the damp is coming into the property. The house is just heated by storage heaters. We have someone able to repair the render, but need to lift funds urgently for the work to begin this summer.
“The trustees have exciting plans to reimagine the property to make it more sustainable and accessible, but, before we will start fund-raising for this, now we have to perform this urgent work.
“We know plenty of individuals who love the island, and this place, and know the way essential this retreat home is for individuals who need it for his or her health, to de-stress. We get calls from individuals who need to come back up urgently, needing to get away, and I would like them to give you the option to come back here to experience the love and peace. I hope a number of the individuals who love this place feel capable of make a small donation; a number of the islanders and retreat guests have already raised 38 per cent of the cash, and we just need one other £18,500 for the work to begin.”
The house will stay open for retreats while the work is being carried out.
A crowdfunder has been arrange for donations for the repair work.
