St Stephen's Church Celebrates its New Roof

St Stephen's Church Celebrates its New Roof

St Stephen's church on the Uxbridge Road has finally completed work on the new church roof, a £250,000 project 10 years in the making.

Following a decade of fund-raising efforts, the church at last raised the £250,000 needed to re-roof the church buildings, the money coming from a blend of private donations, charitable grants, and church funds. 

It has taken the best part of a decade to raise the money, largely through the efforts of Juliet Byford, chair of the St Stephen's Roof Committee. 

 

St Stephen's Church Uxbridge Rd

New roof - detail

St Stephen's is an inclusive church that welcomes people from many different backgrounds, a place where diverse communities come together.  The church serves food to the homeless, distributes clothes and food, and runs a babies and toddlers playgroup on Monday mornings from 9am to 11am.  To read more about St Stephen's, follow this link.  

St Stephen’s Church is a landmark on the Uxbridge Road, and one of the oldest buildings in the area; built in 1850, it is a historic Grade II listed building. Even if you've never entered the church, you have probably walked past it countless times.

Hot Meals for the Homeless

Each Monday the church serves a home cooked hot meal to 70-100 homeless people or hostel dwellers, it also welcomes older people to a lunchtime cinema club where they can meet friends and watch a film together, and the church hosts parents and toddlers at a playgroup in the hall on Monday mornings.

St Stephen's School
St Stephen’s School is closely linked with the Church and together they provide a strong focus for the community. Ballet classes and children’s tuition happen in the church hall, children’s parties, counselling and baby classes all take place.

Thanks to the donors

Here at the Shepherd's Bush Blog we'd like to extend our thanks to all the donors, large and small (you know you are) who donated money to make this happen. Church roofs are not a fashionable charitable purpose these days, and yet without a roof over our heads, all our lives become wetter and gloomier. Many people and organisations have been very generous for many years - thank you for opening your hearts - and your wallets. 

The Shepherd's Bush Blog offers a personal view on life in Shepherd's Bush. If you would like to contribute a story, email us at shepherdsbushblog@gmail.com. And don't forget to add your opinion in the comments section below.