Latest News & Updates

May 2010 Update - and Gallery

Sun, 2 May 2010 19:10:39 -0700

We are now half way through the restoration work!
The old floor has been excavated and replaced with new hard core and damp-proofing, and a new concrete floor has been laid on top. The walls have been sandblasted and the decayed ceiling joists have been renewed. The tower has been renovated - and made pigeon proof!
The arc for the double door entrance has been created and a new metal frame for the roof has been put in place, together with new joists for the upper floor and interior walls. The chandelier for inside the church is also finished.
Click here for a gallery of photographs of the building work in progress, updated today!
Thanks be to God!

March 2010 Update

Thu, 4 Mar 2010 20:19:07 -0800

It is now a year since the launch of our Building Appeal. Thanks be to God, we have raised over £130,000 towards our target of £500,000.
Several carol singing sessions during the last few weeks before Christmas helped to increase awareness of our appeal in Oxford. A carol singing video in the archive captures some of our parish members in action!
Our first lottery was a great success. Over 2,000 tickets were sold, thanks to the hard work of friends and parish members. The lottery also acted as a catalyst for several generous donations to the appeal.
Postal delays involving a significant number of sold tickets meant we were forced to postpone the lottery draw date until Sunday 28th February. However, the prizes have now been drawn and winners have been notified. Thank you to all ticket holders for your patience.
The latest good news is that our appointed builder, Stuart Barr, began restoration work in February. We expect completion by August and hope to begin celebrating services in the restored church building by Autumn of this year.
Click here for a gallery of photographs taken during the first week of building and restoration work on the new church...
Please continue to remember us in your prayers during this blessed season of Great Lent!

Carol Singing Video

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:26:54 -0800

On 22-23 December, members of St Nicholas Parish sang traditional Christmas carols in the Westgate Shopping Centre, Oxford, to raise funds for the Building Appeal. A booth was set up with information about the appeal, photos of the parish, and raffle tickets for sale.
For highlights of the two day’s events, we invite you to watch the following video:

Carol Singing to Raise Funds

Mon, 7 Dec 2009 12:21:50 -0800

Leading up to western Christmas, we will be carol singing in the centre of Oxford to raise funds.
On Saturday 12th December, parish members will be singing at the Oxford Christmas Market and collecting donations. Then on 22nd and 23rd December we will be providing musical entertainment at the Westgate Shopping Centre as well as selling lottery tickets.
Please feel very welcome to join us on these days!

December 2009 Update

Sun, 6 Dec 2009 11:59:27 -0800

It is now nine months since the start of our appeal. As of 1st December 2009, we have raised £111,020 towards our target of £500,000.
Many, many thanks to everyone who has helped us achieve this great beginning.

The New Church Building is Blessed

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 05:30:41 -0800

On Sunday 29th November at 3.00 p.m., our new church building - for which the documents securing its purchase were signed only the Friday before - was blessed by Father Stephen, with many parishioners braving the cold (inside the church as well as outside!) to attend this important moment in our parish life.
Father Stephen reminded those who had gathered that, as we work together to create a new church building for our parish, it is also important that we build up the spiritual life of our church community – the Body of Christ - through the love we show for one another.
Bishop Elisey of Sourozh will bless the beginning of the building work on 10th January 2010.
Click here to see a gallery of photographs from the blessing of the new church building...

Purchase of the Church Building is complete!

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:54:31 -0800

On Friday 27th November our parish received the wonderful news that the purchase of the church building at 34 Ferry Road had been completed. We can now begin the restoration and building work.
Thanks be to God! Builders are due to start early in January 2010.

Lottery launched to raise funds for our Building Appeal

Sun, 1 Nov 2009 05:00:25 -0800

In early November, we launched a lottery as a means of raising funds beyond our small circle of church members. Parishioners have been talking to colleagues, neighbours and friends about the appeal and encouraging them to buy tickets in support.
Lottery tickets were also sold at our recent Gala Concert, which raises funds annually for the general running costs of the parish.
Lottery prizes will be drawn on 7th January 2010.

Summer Fun Day

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 05:37:47 -0700

On Saturday 29th August, St Nicholas Parish hosted a Family Fun Day in one of Oxford’s most popular parks in aid of the St Nicholas Orthodox Church Building Appeal. The event was advertised widely and promised a host of fun activities for children and their families on the Bank Holiday Saturday, the last before the beginning of the new academic year. Amongst the attractions, there were two bouncy castles, face-painting, mug-decorating, seed planting, running races and an unusual but extremely popular activity of hula-hoop making. Refreshments were available from the on-site barbecue and the ice-cream, cake and homemade lemonade stalls which were all doing a roaring trade in the August sunshine. The day concluded with a raffle, featuring a number of attractive prizes, including a voucher for a professional photographic portrait worth £145.
The event raised in excess of £1,650 which represents an important contribution to the ongoing appeal effort. Of comparable importance is the local publicity generated by such events; the people of Oxford were able to learn more about our plans to open a new Orthodox place of worship and, ultimately, about the Orthodox Church.
Click here for a gallery of photographs from the Fun Day...

July 2009 Update

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 05:33:07 -0700

Four months on from our appeal launch date on Forgiveness Sunday 1st March 2009, we have made tremendous progress. Everything is in place for the purchase of the building by the end of July. Through God’s blessings, a sponsor has provided us with a 5 year loan of £250,000, allowing us to purchase the building quickly and focus our initial fundraising efforts on paying for the restoration work. Detailed building plans and a scope of work have been prepared and we hope to begin restoration in August.

To date, we have banked £60,000 mostly raised through appeals to our closest friends and family. We are now widening our appeal to include grant-making trusts as well as putting together a plan of fundraising activities which will take our appeal to a wider audience in 2010.