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 Pictured (from left): Fundraiser Mandy Fernie, Fr Malcolm, Mayor Jill Fraser, Jeannie Hopper and Fr Wheeler. |
Daring priest breaks the £100k barrier after roof top vigil
THE daring vicar who beat his fundraising target of £100,000 by sleeping on a church roof has announced work to the roof could start by Christmas.
Father Malcolm Hunter was joined by the Mayor of Camden, Councillor Jill Fraser, on Friday as he thanked friends and members of the congregation for helping St Michael’s Church in Camden Town raise £111,000.
He raised the money by spending ten days and nights on the church roof during the summer.
Fundraising tactics included former bar-lady Jeannie Hopper, who collected £1,000 offering passers-by the chance to sponsor a slate for £5.
Walking through Camden Town wearing a t-shirt which read ‘Only £5’, she joked: “I got some indecent offers.” Parish Priest Father Nicholas Wheeler told the gathered crowd: “As you can see from the buckets on the floor we certainly need a new roof.
“I want to say a very big thank you to the people of Camden Town and across the world who’ve helped us.”
He also thanked the New Journal for giving the campaign dedicated coverage.
Work to the roof, which hasn’t been replaced since the church was built in 1881, could begin before Christmas.
The money raised by the Grade II listed church will be matched by a grant of £450,000 from English Heritage.
The announcement of the total coincided with the launch of the Camden Road church’s annual festival, which runs until Tuesday October 10.
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