The Mission – To raise £660,000 to replace the roof on the Grade I listed St Paul’s Church and be on site in Summer 2024!
The Solution – Target 660 businesses for £1,000 – job done!
David Tomlinson, Vicar to the St Pauls Church said: “I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of so many individuals and businesses who have given to our ‘Raise the Roof’ campaign including our fundraising team Jilly Cosgrove – Barques, Philip Jackson – Maguire Jackson, Brian Simpson, David Kidney, and David Morgan.
Our goal is to save the historic and iconic St Paul’s Church from catastrophic water damage. This is an urgent task because our architect has warned us that it could give way at any time.
That is why we were hoping for the roofers to be on site this last summer, alas our fundraising hasn’t matched our ambition. However, we are hopeful of the work beginning in February 2026.
This is realistic due to the hard work of this last year. So, grab a glass of something while I share with you some highlights ahead of the New Year celebrations.”
January: The year started having received donations in the latter part of 2023 from A Wardle, Charles & Co, Connolly’s Wine, Cucina Rustica, Doorfit, Elevate Property, KenKid, Kangs, OTD, Prosperity Wealth and UHY Birmingham.
The community support began with Barques creating the campaign collateral, Hobs Repro donating the printing of all our flyers, posters and window stickers and Syne Graphics producing the pull up stands. Estilo donated and fitted carpet tiles to the social rooms behind the balcony transforming this area.
Kangs Solicitors hosted the first cocktail party to spread the word to the business community. Since then, there have been lots of community initiatives and Kangs continue to be a big supporter for the cause.
Donations received from Principle Estate Management, The Ark Alliance, and Weston Beamor
February: Local historian Professor Carl Chinn MBE provided a video of an insight into the church.
#DidYouKnow that St Paul’s Church was originally built by the Colmore Estate to draw people into this new district of Birmingham?
Donations received from PMP Consultants, BPN Architects, The William Dudley Trust, and Andy Street.
March: Donations received from IE, ‘Create to Donate’.
April: The ‘Create to Donate’ Campaign generated over twenty pieces of artwork of the church in all different types of mediums which were displayed for many weeks before being judged by Glynn Purnell.
Donations received from Suzanne Barnes Design Partnership, The Edward Cadbury Charitable Trust – £15,000 and The Garfield Weston Trust – £30,000.
With a generous donation from the Betts family, whose ancestors are buried in St Paul’s Churchyard, the first milestone was reached of over £100,000.
May: Community Support from Global trainers OTD, the first company to donate, held two Power Presenter Workshops with all the funds generated being donated to ‘Raise the Roof’.
June: Donations received from PCPT Architects and Paul Cadman.
July: Donations received from Prem Jewellers
August: Donations received from Creative Retail and Creative Developments
September: Community support from the Marketing Gurus who created a much-needed new website for the Church. Soda Bread Cafe who collected all year round. Fundraising Dinner at UCB
October: The first fundraising dinner was held in the restaurant at the UCB as like to support the local community. Over seventy guests enjoyed a beautiful meal cooked and served by the students and a fantastic evening was had by all.
A total of £1,725 was raised by auctioning the artwork from the ‘Create to Donate’ campaign and £1,155 raised from items donated for auction by local businesses Artisan Alchemy, Fei Liu, The Chocolate Quarter, Mosaic, Grain & Glass, and Temper & Brown and £4,320 from the event.
Plus, more generous donations received from BHP Design and the UCB an amazing £22,200 was raised – a fantastic result!
Huge thanks to all the people that supported the event and donated auction prizes. Donations received from Pertemps & Apsley House Capital
November: A new target was reached – £170,000. Community support from Hollywoodmonster who manufactured and installed the on-site campaign signs and Connolly’s who held their annual wine tasting to support the cause.
December: St Paul’s Church had some beautiful Christmas cards designed and printed by Phil Powell from St Paul’s Associates and extra copies funded by Fleet Milne raised more than £1,500 with cards left to sell next year and hopefully a new design from Phil!
Community support – In true Christmas spirit Stephen Oliver from Oliver Architecture waived his firm’s fees for their services and drawings up to this point in the process.
The Year Ahead Is Positive
With your support the campaigners will continue to raise funds in the local community.
The fundraising team will submit applications to Historic England followed by an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund – watch this space!
Dates For Your Diary
January: 21st January Roni Ferro from Cucina Rustica is going to donate ALL his takings from 12 noon until 5 pm to the ‘Raise the Roof’ campaign. He wants as many people as possible to dine at the restaurant that day – this is such a generous gesture by Roni and again demonstrates the goodwill of our local businesses.
February: The Rectory are hosting a nibbles and darts evening to aid the fundraising further details will follow on social media.
The fundraising team hope you have enjoyed reading this ‘round up’ and promise to keep you up to date more frequently in the New Year.
More Information:
🌐 https://stpaulsjq.church/raise-the-roof
