Our village priest, Tim Hardingham, was admired as a schoolteacher and respected as a preacher but above all loved as a community leader. His vision was to make the church of St Mary serve the whole community, and not only the congregation.
Serving All: Supporting Accessibility & Community at Wendens Ambo Church
St Mary the Virgin, Wendens Ambo, is a Grade I listed church at the heart of our village, serving as a place of worship, celebration, and community gathering. However, our beautiful church lacks essential facilities, making it difficult for many members of our congregation and wider community to participate fully in events.
The ‘Serving All’ Project
We are committed to making St Mary’s fully accessible and inclusive by installing:
- An Accessible Toilet – vital for everyone including elderly visitors, families with young children, and those with mobility challenges.
- A Servery – enabling us to host community events, meetings, and gatherings with proper refreshments.
- Improved Pathways & Lighting – ensuring safe and easy access for all, especially on darker evenings.
These improvements will be in keeping with the church’s historical character and make it more welcoming.
This project is not just about modernisation – it’s about ensuring everyone can access and enjoy St Mary’s. We have already secured:
- a £10,000 donation from Friends of Wendens Ambo Church
- Over £70,000 in congregation and community donations from businesses in Wendens Ambo
But we still need to raise additional funds to cover the construction and installation costs.
Every donation, big or small, will bring us closer to making St Mary’s a truly welcoming space for all. Here’s how your support can make a difference:
• £25 could contribute to safer, accessible pathways or the handles made from recycled ocean plastic
• £50 could help fund the baby-changing facilities
• £100 could support the servery installation
• £500+ could sponsor key elements of the new facilities such as the flooring or the partition between the toilet and servery
By supporting this project, you’re preserving a historic landmark while ensuring that future generations can gather, celebrate, and worship together.
To learn more about our progress, visit our website wendenheritage.org.uk or join us for an upcoming event.
For any questions, contact us at wendensambo.stmary@gmail.com
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