Kemi Badenoch, MP for the Saffron Walden constituency, which includes North Chelmsford villages and the Uttlesford district, joined the local community in Roxwell to open the new Community Café at St. Michael and All Angels Church recently.
In 2009 it was identified that the roof of St Michael and All Angels Church in Roxwell had deteriorated significantly, and essential work was required to preserve its structure and keep out the elements.
Since then, around £500,000 has been raised in total, through local fundraising, gifts, and grants, including a £250,000 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and nearly £40,000 from the Government’s Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.
The new facilities will help ensure that the vision 'Repair the Church; Build the Community' would be realised with the Church opening its doors to a wider range of community activities.
After meeting with residents Mrs Badenoch delivered a short speech applauding the excellent work the community has done to restore such vital assets in the village.
Commenting, Mrs Badenoch said:
“Thank you to Archdeacon Jonathan Croucher, Reverend Tony Cant and all the Roxwell residents who joined together to celebrate this milestone in the church’s restoration.
“This is greater news for Roxwell and follows the announcement in December that the Roxwell Chequers Community Benefit Society will receive over £276,000 from the Government’s Community Ownership Fund to establish a community pub – a bid I was pleased to support.
“It is another example of this Government investing directly into our constituency, helping to preserve and maintain the heritage of these much-loved assets for future generations.”
Commenting, Richard Woolley from Roxwell Church said:
“Parishioners came out in force to welcome Kemi to the celebratory opening of the new community facilities completed in Roxwell Church. Kemi had supported the wider project from the outset which had attracted significant funds from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
“And also took the opportunity to meet with villagers leading the purchase of the closed local pub, The Chequers, to reopen as a community pub in Roxwell later this year. Kemi had again given early support to this initiative. A further illustration of what villagers can achieve to halt the decline of local services and facilities in rural areas.”