Donations come in for St Faith's fund

Donations by parishioners have led to a new fund being set up for St Faith's Church in Ohinemutu. Photo / Supplied

Donations from several church parishioners have kicked off the new St Faith's Church Ohinemutu Fund.

Local residents and inaugural donors, Bill and Josie Scott, said they were excited to have helped get the fund started.

Born and brought up at Ohinemutu, Mrs Scott was baptised and confirmed at St Faith's Church and was a member of the Church Youth Club and choir.

Mr Scott was confirmed at St Faith's and the couple were also married there.

Mrs Scott said St Faith's had always played an integral and important role in their lives.

"Our four children were also baptised there, and Bill and I now have four Aussie grandsons who were all baptised there too.

"We hope passionately that St Faith's will still be here and continue to be a fully functioning church when our great grandchildren come along.

"The church is now over 100 years old and together, we have to continue to take good care of it," she said.

Chairman of St Faith's Church Vestry Bill Kingi said the church had recently established the named endowment fund with the Geyser Community Foundation, which will manage it.

"The fund is a special and powerful way in which individuals, families, whanau and organisations can support St Faith's Church for the long term," he said.

Income earned from the fund will be made available to the church for charitable purposes every year once the fund reaches a minimum of $50,000.

Mr Kingi said the annual income would be used for the general running of the church, including maintaining the historic, intricately-decorated church. "It costs a considerable amount to maintain and keep the 100-year-old wooden building pristine."

Donations can be made by credit card on the Geyser Foundation's website at www.geysercf.org.nz.

-For cash or cheque donations call (07) 349 7496, or emailing annette@geysercf.org.nz.