A CHURCH with an historic link to the legend of Robin Hood has launched an appeal to secure its financial future - or risk uncertainty.
St Mary’s Church in Edwinstowe says it costs over £142 a day to keep the 12th century building up and running, and priest-in-charge Rev Tony Evans admits a plan is needed to help keep it solvent.
According to legend, Robin Hood wed Maid Marian at the church, which is now Grade I listed.
Rev Evans said: “We have these campaigns every few years but we must keep on doing them.
“People are generous but they often move on or their circumstances change. Expenses for running a building like this just go up and up.
“There’s no danger of the church closing tomorrow or next year but the Church of England as a whole has to get to grips with its money because churches are already closing in more rural areas.
“It’s a way that we can hopefully secure ourselves for the next five years.”
The appeal was launched last week with leaflets handed out to the congregation entitled ‘St Mary’s Church to Close? Well not yet...’
Rev Evans admits it was a cheeky shock tactic but says the message is a serious one.
People can complete a promise form on line at www.stmaryt.org or ask for an information pack at the Mansfield Road church.
Rev Evans hopes that people will step forward to pledge money because of the number of people who use or visit the building, which he describes as a “busy little church”.
“We get lots of visitors here because of the Robin Hood connection. We have been connected with our community since 633AD with this building going back to the 1170s, and we want to stay here in this lovely old building,” he added.
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