ROOF REPAIRS AT ST JOHN’S WEMBLEY

HELP FROM HEAVEN THROUGH THE ROOF

A comprehensive roof repair has begun at the Grade II listed St John the Evangelist Church, High Road Wembley. The works commenced on 6th February and will cost around £185,000. It is expected to be completed by 30th May 2017.

The work is being partly funded by a £90,000 grant from the Government’s Roof Fund  awarded to the Church in June 2016. The parish is very grateful to the government’s Roof Fund Scheme, which is administered through the Listed Places of Worship Scheme. The vicar of the parish, The Revd. Preb. Francis Adu-Boachie said, “We acknowledge that without the government Roof Fund this repair work would have been beyond the resources of the Church. The fund is a great initiative that has proved to be a reliable source of funding for Churches and other institutions”.

The remaining £94,000 was raised by a massive effort from parishioners and friends of St Johns through various fund-raising methods.

St John the Evangelist Parish Church is a community Church built by the Copland sisters as gift to the people of Wembley in 1846. It is situated slightly off the High Road Wembley near Crawford Avenue and marked by beautiful flint finish.

The Parish Church has served the people of Wembley in diverse ways; from spiritual development to community action for people of all ages and needs over the years. The Parish continues to support the community through the Mum and Toddler Group, Careers Café for young people and a Lunch Club for people over fifty years.  The homeless and other vulnerable people are supported through a Soup kitchen every Wednesday from 4pm.

The Parish has invested heavily to maintain this historic Grade II listed Church building over the years. Since 2005, We have spent over £700k on various works including underpinning the building, repairs to the roof of the Organ Chamber, restoring the highly-valued organ and the Lytch Gate

However, in 2013, rain began to leak through the apex of the roof and the old ventilation system, dropping right in the nave and making it nearly impossible for some members of the congregation to worship when there is a severe rainfall.

A new roof will enable the Church to complete the implementation of its strategy for the restoration of the entire Church building, providing a secure facility for the use of the community and enhancing the environmental capacities of the building. It will ensure the opening of the Church during weekdays as a place of tranquility and hospitality on a busy High Road. The historic St Johns Church continue to serve as an attraction to tourist over the world. People with connections to Wembley and Brent regularly visit the place where older members of the family were baptised or married and where the remains of their loved ones are buried.

The Parish would like to express our sincere appreciation to all who have supported their fund-raising.