[Magdalen] Please pray

[Georgia DuBose]

I am sorry, Michael, and I am praying. We went through a similar thing
with copper and church appointments when I served in Jefferson County,
West Virginia.

Georgia+

On Fri, Jun 26, 2015 at 12:02 PM, Michael Bishop <rev at michaelbishop.name> wrote:
> I would be grateful for prayers for my parishes.
>
> We have been going through a difficult time lately. Six weeks ago one of our
> churches, St Andrew's, Radbourne suffered a visit from lead thieves and lost
> the entire chancel roof. Thios is a heavy blow for a tiny parish which works
> hard to maintain its grade 1 medieval church. With a turnover last year of
> £6,000 for all purposes we are now faced with a bill of perhaps £15,000 for
> repairs with a maximum insurance contribution of half that. We just hope and
> pray that the rest of the roof is not stolen.
>
> Now, yesterday, another of my churches, All Saints, Trusley suffered the
> loss of most of its roof. Cost of repairs not yet know but certainly in
> excess of £10,ooo. This for a parish with a _population_ of only 80. Again
> we will be struggling to repair this very special early 18th century church.
>
> You can imagine how my congregations feel - they are devastated.
>
> Our part of Derbyshire is suffering a whole string of these thefts, and we
> are wondering where will be next. I am just hoping that St Michael's Church
> Broughton is not hit next. We lost some lead a few years ago and has managed
> to complete repairs. If the thieves arrive here, I will probably have a
> disturbed night as the roof alarm from the church which is next door to me
> should sound and awaken me. Mind you, last time we had a theft, I decided to
> sleep in church so that I would hear any thieves if they called again. They
> did come back - but were disturbed by somebody else who chased them off and
> then came in church to wake me up - I had slept through the whole
> proceedings! (No roof alarm then though!
>
> I wish that I could say that the police are hot on the trail of the thieves,
> but I am afraid that would be at best an overstatement. The theft at Trusley
> was reported to them yesterday evening and they have still to deign to call
> to begin investigations. (It is now 8.00p.m. - almost 24 hours since our
> phone call alerted them.
>
> Thank you for listening to my moan!
>
> --
> ....
> ....
> God bless
>
> Michael Bishop
> rev at michaelbishop.name
>
> Rector of Boylestone, Church Broughton, Dalbury, Longford, Long Lane,
> Sutton-on-the-Hill & Trusley
>
> Diocese of Derby, England
>