What a year!

As we look forward to a near year, we often look back at the year past. 2025 was a particularly busy year at St James church after receiving a full report on the building, access etc. The Quinquennial inspection in the spring and summer of 2024 identified urgent work that needed to be carried out to the tiled roofs, guttering and downpipes on the Church, the tiled roof on the Bier House and the North East pinnacle. Further checks carried out by the Architect, Structural Engineer and Steeplejacks between January and March revealed that the North East pinnacle was in a precarious condition and we were instructed to stop ringing the bells as the resonance could cause the pinnacle to become unstable. And so began a busy year of small grant applications, faculty applications and also putting the fun into fundraising:

April 25: Afternoon Tea and Barbershop Quartet, Family Fun afternoon, Easter Crafts, Easter Egg Hunt;

May 25: Biodiversity and Bug Hotel family activities;

June 25: Charity Lunch and Church tour, Warwickshire Open Studios and Southam Arts Trail (2 weeks, 3 weekends);

July 25: Divertimento concert, ‘Brilliant Butterflies’ Biodiversity afternoon;

September 25: Southam in Bloom’s first compost bin, Heritage Open Days & Church tours, Treasure Hunt around Town organised by the Bellringing team, Andy’s Marathon in Warsaw, Poland, Harvest Supper;

October 2025: Concert with Melody Makers, Windmill Singers, Southam Primary School and guests;

November 2025: Christmas Tree Festival and Enchanted Evening concert;

December 2025: Table at the Christmas Fayre.

Thanks to all of you who have donated, volunteered, attended events, made cakes, stewarded, served refreshments… the list is almost endless! As a result of ALL your efforts, this year we have been successful in being awarded £9,900 from Coventry Diocese and £5,740 from the National Churches Trust. The overall total raised this year was approximately £23k! And so we began some of the restoration and repair work:

The gutters, gullies and drains were cleared out in July, and at the beginning of August the tiled roof works began. This was at a cost of £11,857. In early September, the North East pinnacle was removed, the ‘stump’ capped and the stonework above repointed. This was at a cost of £14,112.

There is significant work ahead identified by the Quinquennial report (including work to the tower, spire and clock, but we also want to improve accessibility, replace a failing and non-eco friendly heating system, and have better kitchen and toilet facilities to help the community to gather for events. If you’d like to get involved then please contact the Church Office.

So as we 2026 begins, we will continue ‘Fun Raising whilst Fund Raising’ and look forward to your continued support.

Happy New Year, from Rev Vikki & Jane Jones (Churchwarden) & St James Church Restoration Team!