Fund Raising: Securing the Future

How Droxford Saved Its Church and Its Heart

Previously we showed there was a risk from Droxford Church closing. A lcoal landmark, a heritage treasure, and a witness to centuries of local life, surviving Ecclesiastical reform, Civil War and World Wars. But the tower was now in peril. Structural decay threatened not just the building, but the role it would play in villagers lives.

Without urgent action, the church could have faced closure, redundancy, and a slow decline into ruin.

The Turning Point

When Friends of Droxford Church (FODC) was founded, its purpose was clear: get St Mary & All Saints off the Heritage at Risk Register and safeguard it for generations to come. The diagnosis was stark—extensive structural repairs were needed to the tower to prevent collapse, and new thinking was needed to stop the building from falling into disrepair again.

Rather than relying solely on grants and donations for upkeep, the plan was ambitious:

  1. Repair the tower to remove the church from the At Risk Register.
  2. Build an annexe to provide modern facilities and house a community café.
  3. Use the café income to create a sustainable fund for future maintenance and community projects.

Raising £650,000

The target was daunting: £650,000. Reaching it meant combining traditional fundraising with a modern approach.

  • Heritage grants came from bodies such as the Heritage Lottery Fund, which recognised the dual value of preserving the tower and creating a self-sustaining future.
  • Local appeals brought in contributions from villagers, 
  • Private donors were approached with clear evidence of the need and the legacy their gift would leave.

Donor List

Organisations

Allchurches Trust, Bowman Ales Ltd, Droxford Country Fair, Droxford Parochial Church Council, Garfield Weston Foundation, Hampshire County Council, Headley Trust, National Lottery Heritage Fund, South Downs National Park, The Jomati Foundation, White Horse Inn (now the Roebuck Inn), Winchester District Council.

Private Donors

Stuart & Veronica Attrill, Steven & Brenda Austin, Steve & Sally Banks, Susan Boddie, Joff & Emma Brown, Clive & Beverley Bryant, Susan & Roger Burt, Michael & Barbara Chandler, Michael & Susannah Clode, Michael & Roslynd Collins, Robin & Rosemary Denham, Jo Dennington, Bob & Jill Edmunds, Richard Elkin, Helen Feeney, Philip & Sandra Glen, David & Jocelyn Griffiths, Lynda Gutteridge , Ian & Lesley Harris, Matthew Hill & Georgina Evans, Jeff & Clare Hooper, Gordon & Jane Hope, The Hornby-Patterson family, Anthony & Nicola Hulbert, John Jack, Lionel & Penelope Jarvis, John Johnson, Michael Lane, Vince & Liz Lane, Andrew Lane, Anthony & Gillian Lean, Julia Lovejoy-Brinkman, Mike & Caroline McGeever, Joy & David Mead, Peter Moore, Michael & Sheila Profit, Mel Rankine & Bonnie Hamilton, Peter & Yvonne Richardson, Sarah Smith, Nicky & Danny Smith, Ninian & Elizabeth Stewart, Ben & Anne Stoneham, Cliff & Sally Sturt, John & Ann Symes, Anthony & Sandra Taylor, Margaret Wallace, Cynthia Westbrook, Michael & Josephine Wilkes, And many other generous Donors who have requested to remain anonymous.

The Annexe: More Than Bricks and Mortar

The new annexe was not just an architectural addition, it’s now an engine for sustainability. Wilfrid’s Café serves locals, walkers, and visitors to the Meon Valley. It’s also a social hub, reducing rural isolation and giving volunteers of all ages a place to connect.

Most importantly, a portion of the café’s income is dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the building as well funding many community projects around the village and nearby areas. This means when the next repair is needed—whether it’s repointing the tower or fixing the roof—there is funding ready, not just a crisis appeal.

Why This Matters

Across England, churches on the Heritage at Risk Register face uncertain futures. Many are eventually saved, but the risk of closure or loss is real—particularly for rural communities. Droxford’s approach offers a model that:

  • Preserves the structure through targeted capital works.
  • Adds income-generating facilities that serve the whole community.
  • Embeds fundraising into everyday life, not just emergencies.

It’s a blueprint that recognises heritage not as a burden, but as a living asset.

A Legacy of Action

Today, St Mary & All Saints is not only structurally sound, it is financially safer. The tower stands firm, the café is bustling, and the church continues to be a place for worship, music, history, and daily village life.

The £650,000 raised did more than save a building—it created a legacy of self-reliance, proving that with vision, collaboration, and determination, even the most daunting challenges can be overcome.

The Medieval Church

The Church in Transition

Victorian to Modern Times