Taking care of the old buildings in our diocese is always a team effort. Nowhere is this more evident than at St Luke's, Heywood, where in spring 2022, just a few weeks before work began on repointing and waterproofing the church tower, the clock on the tower was damaged by strong winds.
With the scaffolding still up, St Luke’s contacted the borough council to ask them to consider the repair of the clock whilst it was accessible, only to discover that the clock had actually been gifted to the town back in the mid-1900s and was no longer the responsibility of the council.
In an effort to save the clock, quotes were obtained, and around a table one coffee morning in August, the churchwardens, treasurer and Revd Kirsty Screeton decided that the only option was to try to get grants (even though keeping the scaffolding up might double or triple costs) or fundraise. They had just two weeks to make the decision, so took a risk and prayed hard. Posters were created thanks to their treasurer’s printing business, and the local town and social media were flooded with ‘Save the Clock’ posters, setting out a target amount of £30,000. Within two weeks a third of the funds had already been raised, and so the risk was taken and the works were authorized.
The people of Heywood got behind St Luke’s; local people and businesses all donated, and even those further afield who had connections to the town added to the fund. Individuals sent money online or turned up during church opening hours and kindly gave various envelope donations. People shared the posts on social media, and one supporter named Jenny, who is not a member of the church but a respected member of the community, heard that funds were at the halfway mark and wrote on Facebook: "The clock belongs to the TOWN it’s based on the church steeple and it belongs to our town, our Clock, when we are shopping in Heywood it displays the time, when our kids are in Heywood the clock gives them the time…The Clock is a local landmark, it’s a meeting place and a point of reference. We need our clock let’s pull together to have it back up and running. It’s our clock let’s put it right…”
Just a few weeks before Christmas, funds had crossed the £20K mark, so there was a final push amongst Churches Together Town Carol Services, brass band concerts and Advent and Christmas services. Then, the treasurer received a phone call from a local business - Crown Oil - who informed them that the Heywood clock had been selected to receive a sum of money as part of their Christmas charity giving. Not only did they offer a donation, but to the amazement of St Luke’s and the local community, they gave the remaining 25% needed to reach the target. (Rochdale News | News Headlines | Heywood’s clock tower saved thanks to Crown Oil £8,000 donation - Rochdale Online).
It was amazing to see how much the clock meant to the town; within three months the full repairs could be made and restoration of the clock took place. In September 2023, when all works had been completed, St Luke’s held a Thanksgiving service and invited the local town and all who had donated, with the Bishop of Middleton, Rt Revd Mark Davies offering a dedication and blessing of the work and clock.
Revd Kirsty Screeton, of St Luke’s, reflects:
“When we started this project, I was on maternity leave, but the team had my full support. It’s thanks to them, Max Robinson and Keith Bamford (Church Wardens) and Allison Bamford (Treasurer) coordinating monies and builders that this project happened. I am grateful for their skills, determination and commitment to the church and its place within the community!”