France Lynch Church Rooms

For over 140 years, the France Lynch Church Rooms have been serving the needs of Chalford Hill and France Lynch, firstly as a primary school, then as a meeting place/village hall for clubs, societies, drama groups, pantomimes, our new local cinema (Screen on the Hill), private parties, concerts and playgroups. But it has become a little tired over the years and now requires some dramatic refurbishment, the cost of which is much greater than the funds generated by its regular users.

We have started to address the fundraising, which is partly why we launched Screen on the Hill in 2010 (to date it has contributed nearly £1500 through admission, advertising and selling local ice-creams) as well as a Sponsor a Chair appeal (we now have the funds to purchase 80 new banqueting style chairs, although further donations (£25 each) will help with maintenance and repairs in the future. We are also in the process of installing new wall lighting in the main hall, to improve the ambience.

But a lot more needs doing (not necessarily in chronological order):

1. Installation of a dado rail and panelling around both halls
2. Building of cupboards for storing tables and chairs
3. Replastering the walls of both halls
4. Repainting both halls and entrances
5. Stripping, repairing and polishing the floors of both halls
6. Modernising the kitchen

All of which can only come at a cost, but will make the Church Rooms more appealing to future users as well as a central meeting place that both villages and villagers will be proud of.

If you want to know more or offer help in kind or cash, please let Jane Calvert or Aubrey Watson know by contacting them.

Curtain Fabric needed

France Lynch Church Rooms are looking for 40 metres of velvet type maroon (or similar) material that we can make into curtains for the main hall. Any offers and/or suggestions would be most welcome. We can collect within 100 mile radius of the village. This is part of the refurbishment programme that has already seen new lighting installed, a complete set of new chairs and permanent improvements to the stage.