Phase 4 Complete!
We were excited to welcome the builders back in the last part of 2024, for stage 4 of our build. Another year, another phase complete – we’re grateful to God for the progress!
We raised enough to create the meeting room (and hatch!), put in the kitchen ceiling, connect up the new boiler, cement the back foyer and knock through from the corridor to the hall.
We now have operational underfloor heating throughout the hall and you can feel the difference – it feels much dryer through the bones of the building, which should keep it in great condition for years to come. It is also exciting to be able to see the spaces in the kitchen and meeting room taking shape.
Fundraising
We finished the year with a brilliant bingo night, in association with White Gold Fish and Chips, and a truly magical afternoon of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” recited by Colchester Arts Centre Director Anthony Roberts. The bingo brought in £482 and “A Christmas Carol” raised £437!
Grants
In 2025, we received the £20,000 we had pledged from Garfield Weston
Foundation, £4000 from The Beatrice Laing Trust and £5000 from Babergh District Council.
Including fundraisers, grants and donations in 2025, we raised a total of £79,000, and our current grand total raised is £165,000! We are aware of what a huge blessing this is, and are so thankful for every person and organisation that has donated and made sacrifices to get us this far.
We estimate we have around £63,000 left to raise to reopen the hall, although we will likely need to continue fundraising after this, having uncovered issues with the roof.
A big thank you to all of you who are continuing to support us over the course of this long project. If you can afford a donation of any kind, we would be so grateful for your gift to help bring our hall back to life as a safe, welcoming, community hub, serving God and the village for years to come.
Comedian coming up – don’t miss out!
On Saturday, March 7th, we will be welcoming back the hilarious comedian Andy Kind, with a new show! Last time Andy came we had an eye-wateringly funny evening, and we can’t wait to for him to bring the joy again next month!
£12.50 per head, £5 per child. https://www.buresbaptistchurch.org/events/comedy-night-with-andy-kind/
