More scaffolding in Bridport!
The audience for the Elton John Experience fundraising concert on Saturday night had to negotiate the scaffolding on the pretty frontage of the Chapel in the Garden. It is there for the much-needed remedial work that is being is carried out on the gallery windows, and leaking roof. It has taken a while to raise the money to start this work, and the fundraising team are carrying on with further events to ensure all the different needs of this handsome Grade 2” listed building are now getting the attention they deserve.
Glenda Willis, secretary to the Trustees, explained about the age of the Chapel and the need for restoration work of many of its original features. “The Chapel was built by dissenting non-conformists in 1794, and still has fixed pews, a gallery and glorious gallery windows. Familiar local names; Colfox, Gundry; Hounsell were prominent in its inception The spacious rooms at the back on Rax Lane were originally added for the Sunday and Grammar school, and are still much used as a community resource, hosting varied activities such as yoga, singing, counselling, self-help groups, learning and many more.”
The recent Elton John Experience fundraising concert was very popular, with the audience dancing in the aisles to the well-known numbers, along with refugees from Ukraine who had been offered complementary tickets for the show. Many of the audience had popped into Instant Redress to find funky glasses and feather boas. When Mark Stewart, a great Elton both visually and vocally, came to “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” he called on a member of the audience to be his Kiki Dee. Margie Barbour, part of the fundraising team said 
“I was worried no one would be brave enough, and that I might have to volunteer, and I’m no singer. Luckily Vanessa Jessopp saved the day, stepped forward and was great; they sang together as if it had been rehearsed, but it hadn’t! She had a very well-deserved warm round of applause for both her courage and her talent”.
The Chapel is open on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, the minister and volunteers welcome visitors to the café and extensive second hand bookshop, and on Sundays to the service held at 11am. Bridport’s Community Fridge, offering free food to all comers, operates from the Chapel on Tuesday and Saturday mornings and the Chapel receives donations of men and women’s clothing which is made readily available to all.
It is a much loved and needed community hub and the fundraising team work hard to ensure that the building can continue its important community work as well as keeping the building safe for future generations.
If you would like to know more or would like to donate to this vital work, please see our website https://thechapelinthegarden.com/ or contact us on 07566 751752 or email secretary.citg@gmail.com
