South Yorkshire Times, May 19th 1951
To Help the Church
Appeal to Boltonians
An appeal to the people of Bolton who use the Parish Church for regular worship, or expect the church to be at their service in times of need, to support a Free Will offering Scheme to raise money for the repair of the church is made by the Vicar, the Rev. D. C. Sparks, in his Parish Magazine.
He writes: “A promising start has been made with the new scheme, and we are asking all who at any time expect the church to be at their service in times of sickness, bereavement marriages, christenings, as well as to provide regular worship, teach their children, maintain spiritual ideas and provide spiritual leadership, to help in preserving this ancient shrine which has been the centre of spiritual life in this place for over 900 years.”
He asks the people of the church to take a booklet containing a year’s supply of envelopes and says that the success of the scheme depends upon regular contributions each week.
In his letter he says that quite a number of people, and not always regular churchgoers, have asked him if they could help.
He continues, “Of course, we need very many more contributors yet. During the next two or three years we must try to build up a reserve fund of at least £1,000 before we embark upon the repairing of the nave, re-hanging of the bells and repairing of the various parts of the fabric.