‘Buy A Brick’ Campaign Officially Launched

The 3rd November saw the launch of the latest fundraising initiative in the Heart of the Community  project at St Michael’s Church, Stoke Gifford.  The team hope the “Buy a Brick Campaign” will raise an additional £50,000 towards their £5.5  million target for transforming the old Barns site alongside St Michael’s to create a 600-seat auditorium with meeting rooms and other much needed facilities.  

Building work starting on the project in July and Matters Magazines is following the progress of the build and providing updates in Little Stoke Gifford Matters – new issue out next week. To date over £2.4m has been donated or pledged to the project which is sufficient to take the build to the end of phase 1, construction of the shell, which should be completed by next summer.

Rev Martin Gordon told me, “We are aiming to sell 5,000 bricks and raise £50,000 towards the project. It s a chance for everyone to play their part in improving local facilities and building local community brick by brick. ”  

The Buy a Brick team is led by Rev Jimmy Rocks who added “We are inviting the whole of the local community to play a part in the project by paying for individual bricks for the new centre. Everyone who donates £10 will be given a Buy a Brick certificate and the satisfaction of playing a part in building community ”.   So if you re stuck for a Christmas gift for someone, why not buy them a brick and give the gift of a certificate and the knowledge that they have ‘helped build a community in Stoke Gifford.

When I met up with Sue and Martin in October and first learned about the ‘Buy a Brick Campaign I was very pleased to donate my £10 to buy the first brick! Bishop Mike and MP Jack Lopresti have also been early supporters of the campaign, as well as many members of the congregation when it was launched during the Sunday service on 3rd November.

There will be plenty of opportunities for you to ‘Buy a Brick as the team will be taking their mobile site to local events including Carols on the Green on 14 December as well as Parkway Station, Friends Life and the local branches of the Co-op, Asda and B&Q.   Bricks will also be on sale in St Michael s Church Old School Rooms from 10am-4pm on Monday to Friday and online at  www.stmichaelsbristol.org/brick.

You can also purchase bricks at a number of local businesses who are supporting the campaign, namely

• St Michael s Pre School & Nursery
• Beaufort Arms
• Allen and Harris
• Hair Corner
• Shampers Hair Salon
• Studio Barbers.

photo shows ‘Buy A Brick’ team members Rev Martin Gordon, Keith Cottrell and Rev Jimmy Rocks – look out for them in their hi-viz and hard hats at a community venue near you … and please support them by ‘Buying a Brick!”