WE NEED YOUR HELP !

The village church at Hoole has been here almost 400 years, and we don’t want to lose it!

The essence of Hoole village is St Michael’s church.

The church is the one enduring feature that over the centuries has brought the community together, and provided comfort and happiness to every generation.

This is what the village is all about.

Most people in the village profess to be Christian, although not necessarily practising Christians.

Many of us will need the church at some time in our lives, especially when we experience trouble, sorrow, tragedy, celebration , joy and happiness.

Many people in the parish attended St Michael’s church school and will know that the church teaches us the difference between right and wrong and how to treat our neighbours.

The churchyard is a memorial for over 15,000 people who are buried there, as well as the war memorial and two war graves.

Without the church, the village will be a hollow place.

The Rev. Ann Templeman will be retiring at the end of September this year after six years.

Rev. Ann has led our parish into a whole new world of services for all ages and our church has grown under her guidance.

She has worked tirelessly, as a volunteer without being paid.

We are unlikely to find another volunteer in the foreseeable future.

So we need to be prepared to pay a salary for the next person who takes on the post.

Without positive action NOW there is a chance our church could eventually decline.

NO VICAR IS EFFECTIVELY NO CHURCH!

Along with other Parish Churches, our church does not receive any Government Funding.

St Michael’s currently has nearly the lowest rate of planned giving in the Diocese which is surprising, as Hoole is a relevantly affluent area.

The parish needs to raise at least an an extra £45K to cover the cost of a full time rector.

The population of the parish is approx. 4,000 , so we need to encourage as many as we can to commit to supporting the church by generously giving a sum of money every week/month in order that our church can remain open.

Example:

175 people committing to £5 per week/£22 per month = £45,000

100 people committing £8.65 per week/£37.50 per month = £45,000

NB: one pint of lager locally costs £5.

ALL THE MONEY COMMITTED IN THIS WAY WILL GO DIRECTLY TO HOOLE ST MICHAEL'S CHURCH.