Warminster Feoffees launch appeal

St Lawrence's Chapel is located on Warminster High Street

The Feoffees of St Lawrence Chapel, Warminster, are launching a public appeal to raise £40,000 for major restoration work.

This small chapel in the middle of the town is owned by the people of Warminster who paid £38 6s 8d to purchase it in 1575.

Since then, 12 "Feoffees", or trustees, have met regularly to organise services and maintain its fabric.

St Lawrence Chapel is a "peculiar" and does not belong to any diocese.

It is not supported by any church or heritage organisation and the Feoffees are entirely responsible for its upkeep and funding on behalf of the townspeople.

As with all old buildings every now and then some major repair work is needed and it has been noticed recently that the battlements are becoming unstable.

New stones are needed to replace those worn by weathering, together with two new gargoyles at the back of the tower.

The estimate for the entirety of the work required is in the region of £40,000.

The chapel is precious to the people of Warminster Phil Howard, Chairman of the Feoffees

Phil Howard, Chairman of the Feoffees, said: "The urgent part is the £23,000 required to restore the battlements. If they were to fall they could leave a hole in the chapel or worse, fall on somebody's head!"

"The chapel is precious to the people of Warminster. It's a central place, and is open at times when people can come to express themselves or have a quiet prayer.

"The town would be a poorer place without it. We think it's a gem."

To raise the money an Appeal is being launched in the Chapel at the Patronal Festival service at 6pm on Sunday, 9 August 2009.

A programme of fund raising events is planned and at the same time local companies and organisations, along with Warminster residents, will be invited to make donations.

The repair work is planned to start in May 2010.