Vicar's dizzying descent marks start of landmark appeal for Harrogate church

 

Vicar of St Peter’s Harrogate, Revd Canon Tony Shepherd, abseiling down the side of the church tower in the town centre as part of a Gift Day for  the church’s  ambitious Building Development Project. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St Peter’s is hoping to raise £300,000 in one weekend and the event drew large crowds to see the Vicar lower himself gently down the side of the building.

 

The Gift weekend is part of an ambitious £1.5 million appeal enlisting the support of local trusts to create “the church of the future at the heart of Harrogate”.  

Also livening up the centre of Harrogate was a jazz band and a display of plans for the refurbishment and development of St Peters.

Canon Shepherd says the aim is to make the Victorian building more useful for present and future generations. “We hope to enhance our traditional Victorian splendour with a modern, progressive touch. In order to develop our youth work we want to provide modern, purpose-built rooms for lively activities. We need meeting rooms which can accommodate our existing wide range of organisations and bring in new ones. We hope to open up the building with glazing to invite the world in to share our Christian message and we intend to offer a moment of stillness and reflection throughout the day for those who need it in their busy lives.”

Donations  can be made by cheque, credit/debit card, standing order or cash.  More information at www.stpetersharrogate.org.uk