Work by the team behind the lottery-funded Tower of Strength project at All Saints’ Church has been described as “awe inspiring” and “outstanding” in an evaluation report into its progress.
The project aims to boost community involvement – the ‘Activity Phase’ – at the church, and followsthe restoration of the church tower and the building of a new kitchen and toilet, funded by a near £500,000 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), along with other grants.
Unusually, the evaluators added a foreword to the report, saying that the “project has been a joy to work on”. They added: “The ceaseless hard work, dedication and determination of the team to succeed have been awe inspiring. The mutual respect shown to all, by all, has been both refreshing and cheering.”
The evaluators went on: “The love that the Brightlingsea communities have for All Saints’ Church has been palpable throughout and the outstanding success of the project is testament to the affection and respect that local people have for the building, its history and its people. This has been first and foremost a local project, supported by all parts of the Brightlingsea community but it serves as reminder and an example of the value that human kindness can play to knit people together.”
Project team leader Elizabeth Foss-Smith told Brightlingsea Info: “It is very good that the hard work and enthusiasm shown by the whole of the Brightlingsea community for All Saints’ has been recognised by our external evaluators. Sharing the church with the restored tower and new amenities with a much wider audience has given all of us on the heritage team huge pleasure and encouragement. Now we look forward to 2025 and more activities and events.”
The new facilities at the church have broadened its appeal, enabling a wide range of events to be held there and making the ancient building much more of a comunity hub. Much has been made of its history, and the report said that the increase in the number of visitors – through events such as family fun days, candlemaking sessions, craft days, and homeschooler and school visits – had “generally been good”.
“There is a sense that the church building is increasingly an open and welcoming space,” said the report. “Refreshments are very successful and part of the welcome. People pause, have a cuppa and a chat. All Saints’ is a place to meet up with friends.”
The report also praised the team driving the project. “This should serve as an example to NLHF of, not only how to deliver a project well, but how to live life, get on with people, work as a team and bring out the best in people,” it said, concluding, “the project has undoubtedly supported the communities around them and made Brightlingsea a better place to live, work and visit”.
