Paisley Daily Express

Pope’s hat raises amazing £23,000

Fantastic boost for church hall refurbishm­ent fund

- Kenneth Speirs

A hat worn by the Pope has been sold for more than £20,000 to help fund the restoratio­n of a church hall.

The white skullcap was put up for auction at a fundraiser for St John’s the Evangelist Church in Barrhead.

The gavel fell after fierce bidding at £ 23,000, thanks to a knock-out bid from Scottish businessma­n Lord Haughey, who is well known as founder of City Refrigerat­ion with wife Susan.

And there was more to come at the amazing event.

A skull cap worn by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Paisley, the Rt Rev John Keenan went for £ 10,000 to an anonymous bidder.

Parish priest at St John’s Rev Paul Brady said the Pope’s hat was donated to the event by a choir that was given to it by the pontiff after they had sung for him at the Vatican.

“We had a reserve of a good amount on the Pope’s hat, but we didn’t expect it to go for that incredible amount,” he added. “It is fantastic.” Also raised at the fundraiser, which was held at a Glasgow Hotel, was £17,000 for the auction of a car, as well as other smaller sums, bringing the total raised to an amazing £74,000.

A spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paisley said: “Bishop John would like to thank everyone who helped organise and support our first Bishop’s Fundraisin­g Ball last month.

“Our first annual event was organised in partnershi­p with Saint John’s, Barrhead, and raised an amazing total of £ 57,000, with an additional £17,000 for the car raffled on the night, which means £74,000 of funds going to the refurbishm­ent of their parish hall.”

The parish of St John’s is more than 175 years old, and the refurbishm­ent work to the church building, centred mainly on the roof, has been ongoing for some time.

We had a reserve on the Pope’s hat, but didn’t expect it to go for that incredible sum Rev Paul Brady

 ??  ?? Auction RC Bishop of Paisley Rt Rev John Keenan with Lord and Lady Haughey and the Pope’s hat
Auction RC Bishop of Paisley Rt Rev John Keenan with Lord and Lady Haughey and the Pope’s hat

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