JCB ANSWERS CHURCHS PRAYERS WITH 6000 CAR PARK DONATION

JCB has answered the prayers of a local parish church by donating £6,000 to help provide a car park for worshippers and visitors.

The contribution from the Bamford Charitable Foundation is towards a £20,000 project for off-road parking for 24 vehicles at St Giles’ Church in Croxden near JCB’s World HQ at Rocester.

The 19th Century Grade 2 listed church is situated off a narrow country lane close to a tight bend with no provision for off-road parking. This has meant churchgoers - and local groups using the community room within the church – having to park on the road or in nearby gateways, which was unsafe and caused congestion, especially with passing farm traffic.

Stephanie Shevlin, from Winnothdale said: “I come to services at St Giles’ Church every Sunday.  The new car park will make things much easier, particularly for families and older parishioners. As it’s a small church, finances are always tight, so we’re very grateful for JCB’s donation.”

Alf Hawksworth, who co-ordinated the construction project on behalf of St Giles’ Church said: “I have lived in Croxden for over ten years and have seen many times how difficult it can be for parishioners to park safely outside the church without causing a hazard or congestion. The new car park adjacent to the churchyard will make a huge difference to churchgoers and visitors.”

The construction of the car park was initially made possible following the generous donation of a 620 square metre plot of land by local farmer David Rowley, who acquired the field to the north of the churchyard two years ago. 

Michael Gent, of Great Gate, near Hollington, said: “The donation of a plot of land adjacent to St Giles’ Church was a turning point. It meant that we could get the project underway after many years of looking for a solution. JCB’s generous donation goes a long way towards meeting the cost of the project.”

The local community has also made ‘in kind’ donations (e.g. site clearance, weed killer, fencing) and the project’s main contractor is a local firm, Whitley Groundworks Ltd, based in Hollington.