The Community Enterprise Foundation of the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank recently approved a donation of $11,000 to St John's Anglican Parish Council at Boorowa to assist in the restoration of two historic windows in St John's Church.
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The donation represented a 'challenge grant' to the church community which required it to raise sufficient funds, which, when combined with the Foundation's contribution, would provide funds to complete the project, which is stage one of the church's restoration programme.
With the Sydney-based glaziers' team of Jeff Hamilton Design Glass ready to begin work, and concern about the fragile condition of the windows, the Parish Council decided to amalgamate available funds to meet the challenge commitment and allow the work to proceed.
This week the chair of the Boorowa community Bank Board, Sue Corcoran, presented the welcome donation cheque to church representatives.
A church spokesman said later that he and his members were very grateful to Bendigo Bank for their generous support of the project, which would permit the urgent work of restoration to the historically valuable fabric of the church to go ahead.
The stained-glass windows to be restored are those on the northern side of the building, 'St John the Evangelist' in memory of John Ovens; and 'The Good Shepherd,' in memory of Charles Ludovia and Celia Anne Hume of Castlesteads.
Both windows have been showing signs of age, and the Parish Council believed that urgent restoration work was a priority.
It is hoped that members of the community and interested parties might be prepared to contribute to the restoration scheme, which will allow the church to replenish its coffers in preparation for the restoration of other parts of the building, and particularly the 'Ascension' eastern window, which has three panels and will be even more expensive to restore.
The work on the northern windows, which commenced on Tuesday, will cost the church over $39,000.
