PARISHIONERS in Raglan have raised £30,000 towards the cost of urgent repairs to their church roof.

The ‘Raise the Roof appeal was launched by a group of volunteers for St Cadoc’s church in 2013 after a quinquennial inspection found that the entire roof should be replaced along with other works costing £410,000.

As well as repairs to the roof, gutters and tower buttresses to the Grade II-Listed church on Chepstow Road, other improvements need to be made such as installing a disabled toilet and kitchen and improving access.

The appeal committee has raised £30,000 through fundraising events that included a quiz night, coffee mornings, talks and an ‘Elvis’ concert.

The most recent event was a Christmas exhibition that was held at the church earlier this month. St Cadoc’s was filled with 19 Christmas trees that were decorated by local businesses and community groups, attracting nearly 400 visitors to the church over a weekend.

Visitors were able to buy a bauble for £1 to put on the trees, raising £239.

The total raised at the event was over £1,270, together with £231 collected at the Raglan School carol concert and £69 from donation boxes in in local shops and Christmas tree sales at The Beaufort Arms Hotel in Raglan.

Committee member, Beverley Jones said: “This is a wonderful result for the campaign and the committee would like to express a sincere thanks to all those mentioned above with an special thank you to Sylvia Price and Jean Langley for organising the Christmas Tree Exhibition, all the ladies who served the refreshments over the three days, Julie Wyer and family who sat and decorated the purchased baubles for the Church tree.”

The funds raised by the committee, together with the lottery funding and grants from other bodies and from the National Churches Trust brings the current appeal total to just over £90,000.

Future fundraisers include an ‘Elvis’ sings gospel concert at St Cadoc’s Church on February 20. Tickets are £12 adults and £6 children from Raglan Post Office or Beverley Jones on 01291 691991.