Help Us Rebuild the Good Shepherd Boundary Wall

***UPDATE*** - Good news!

You might have noticed that some repairs are already underway. Here’s the update:

After the original contractor backed out, the alternative offers looked frightening but a local builder, John Walsh, stepped up and offered a competitive bid with some clever cost-saving measures. With support from the Architect, the Archdeacon gave his approval, and work finally started!

With re-inspection, we found that we really needed to do something to prevent a Handen Road collapse like the one at Wantage Road, so we’ve been working on preventative repairs on the Handen section, even though it was supposed to be a stretch target. 'A stitch in time saves nine!’ And we’ll be starting work on Wantage Road ASAP in September.

Our thanks for all your amazing fundraising efforts, including the GoFundMe appeal; with the addition of a £5,500 grant from a successful application to the Benefact Trust, we’ve managed to cover our original target! We’re so grateful to all 47 GoFundMe donors who stepped up and supported us and to those who gave some fantastic donations directly to the church (most of which are anonymous). We should like to mention the Rainbows, Guides, FUSS Fair, and SMAG (a local artists group).

All this amazing support means we can go ahead with the works with the back stop of running down church reserves in the short term. We’re still open for contributions to the Handen Road stretch target which would mean that can preserve the reserves for other investment in the church and community.

A huge thank you to everyone who has supported us on this long and sometimes challenging journey. We couldn’t have done it without you!

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To note: website suggested donations

The website has automatically suggested some (really quite large) donation sums - please don't feel bound to these! We're very grateful for any and all support that our community is able to give.

The Good Shepherd Church boundary wall is getting old and badly needs community help to rebuild and repair.

The Church of the Good Shepherd in Lee is a deeply embedded part of its community. We have a lively, committed congregation of about 100, and our building is used by many community groups in Lee, including Scouts, Guides, Forest School and others who hire the hall and garden.

We're lucky to have a generous amount of surrounding open lawn, surrounded by a boundary wall creating a safe space for children’s activities and outdoor adult events. When there aren't events on, local people often cut through the church garden or take a moment to sit under the trees on the bench.

But our boundary wall has seen better days!

Along the side of Wantage Road a 4-metre section has fallen over. Other parts of the wall need urgent repair to stop them from collapsing too. This means the space is not secure for children's activities and fallen bricks could present a trip hazard to pedestrians.

The church boundary wall, largely original, reflects the former Victorian church’s architectural style. Lewisham Council has designated the wall as a locally listed “Community Asset,” recognising its significance as an integral component of the Conservation Area. Consequently, the wall must be restored to its original form, which is costly compared to building a simple garden wall, and even more costly due to damaged foundations under the public pavement caused by the wall’s collapse. Obtaining planning permission from both the Diocese and Lewisham required meticulous coordination and agreement on the use of bricks, mortar, and foundations; this is why it has taken so long to commence the project and we are grateful for the support of the Lee Manor Conservation Society in getting these permissions.

Rebuilding the wall and dealing with the foundations in Wantage Road will cost about £44,000. There are additional repairs we'd like to do on the Handen Road side costing £9,000, but that's a stretch target.

We’ve used Good Shepherd Church funds to cover professional fees for around £5,000 to win the permissions, and the Church has been able to put aside a further £20,000 for the building work.

So, since we have £20,000 from Good Shepherd funds, we're setting an initial target of £24,000 to meet the rest of the cost for the Wantage Road side. We’ll also approach Trusts for grants, but grants for a project like this are limited. Most grant makers want evidence of fundraising and have a minimum of 50% raised before considering it. If successful, we’ll update the figures here.

Thank you!