Roe-naissance setting church stalls out for pew venture
VOLUNTEERS looking for imaginative ways to use a grand but redundant church will host a novel event - using its pews for a car boot sale.
Members of the Roenaissance Project want greater community use of Christ Church, a Grade II listed Georgian building on Bridge Street, Macclesfield.
And the group has organised a Pitch in a Pew, an indoor car boot sale that takes place on Sunday, January 19 from 9am to 3pm.
Money raised will help keep the church open for future events although worship stopped several decades ago.
Dan Lancaster, from the Roe-naissance Project, said: “We are a small band of local volunteers striving to find a new purpose in the local community for the long time redundant Christ Church.
“The latest idea is to make beneficial use of the historic box pews by hosting an indoor car boot sale where people are invited to hire the pews to set up mini stalls within.
“The hope is that this might become a more regular event in Macclesfield’s calendar, raise valuable funds and increase the footfall through Christ Church’s doors.”
Previous events have included an eco-fashion
there show, a Georgian-themed Christmas event, circus skills workshop and musical performances.
Among those to perform there are Acapella group Cadenza, Macclesfield Society of Recorder Players and singer Coral Roberts.
Work has also focused on the outside of the church and a garden with edible and medicinal plants has been set up. It is hoped this will attract wildlife and deter anti-social behaviour.
And future plans include plumbed-in toilets and a small kitchen as currently the building does not have running water.
The church was designed to be an ‘oratory church’ - to enable its preacher’s sermon to be heard by as many people as possible.
To that end its capacity is around 1,800 and the pews that will be used for the car boot sale were also integral to this aim.
Entry to the event is 50p and for sellers it is £5 per pew - with a minimum of two suggested. To book email theroenaissanceproject@gmail.com.