VOLUNTEERS devoted to the upkeep of a ‘tin tabernacle’ church building in Langley Marsh, Wiveliscombe, were delighted recently to receive a £5,000 award, after being granted £25,000 for match funding by the town council a month before, writes Sue Mitchinson.

The award is from Wiveliscombe Consolidated Charities for St Luke’s, a pre-fabricated, corrugated iron church that has been lovingly looked after by the local community, and is used as a space for everything from exhibitions and concerts, to singing groups and more.

Nicky Saunter, a member of Friends of St Luke’s, the community group which runs the tin tabernacle and organises fundraising, events and upkeep work, said: “We are delighted.

“This will enable us to get access to our first £5,000 from the town council grant, and to start work on making our building more accessible and sustainable. This means putting in a loo, improving the entrance, mending the leaking porch roof, insulating the walls to reduce heating costs, and a rolling programme of replacing the damaged external tin wall coverings. There’s lots to do!”

She said they received the promise of a “fabulous” £25,000 grant from the town council in March, provided they can raise the same amount of money elsewhere to match it, and they have also been applying to other grant organisations, as well as holding fundraising events that also aim to bring the community together and have fun.

Tin tabernacles are pre-fabricated church buildings that were developed in the mid-19th century, and served fast-growing industrial towns and cities across England, the British Empire and North America.

St Luke’s is not consecrated as a church, although it can be used for church services, but it is very much a community space, for fifty people. Huge amounts of work have gone on over the years to bring the building back from disrepair and maintain it.

“People have put in thousands of hours to paint the church, scrub the tin, lay carpets, put in a kitchen, to garden, and even restore the lovely little wooden belcote that snapped in a storm and was found in the hedge.”

Current fundraising has ranged from exhibitions and talks to music recitals and celebrations, local groups use the space for various activities, and there are plans to extend its use in the future as a community hub, for family celebrations, learning activities, garden parties and more.

The group is working with a local architect and has asked local builders to give quotes, aiming to “keep the money in the 10 parishes,” said Nicky.

Helena Trump, secretary of Wiveliscombe Consolidated Charities, said: “The trustees were pleased to award funds to help match fund the Town Council`s donation. St Luke`s was considered to be an up-and-coming, valuable community centre and meeting place, which met all our criteria.”

Roger Wilson, chairman of Wiveliscombe Town Council, added: “We are always pleased to support parish organisations. We hope that St Luke's fund raising will continue to be successful and they will soon be able to start work on the Tin Tabernacle.”