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As reported in a recent Bulletin, our Link Parish of St Mary's, Axim, Ghana has unfortunately suffered severe damage to the Church building. The letter signed by the Secretary and the Archdeacon is set out below. In order to respond as quickly as possible to our Brothers and Sisters in their need, it has been agreed to bring the retiring collection for St Mary's forward from September to June. Please respond as you are led and please remember St Mary's in your prayers. Lynn Winter from the Anglican Diocese of Sekondi, Saint Mary's Anglican Church Dear Brethren We write to report with deep regret a serious crisis in the Parish of St Mary's the Virgin Anglican Church Axim. A rainstorm has ripped off the roof of the Church building. Briefly this is what happened. On Sunday 26th March 2000, it was observed that the western end of the wall had broken along with four of the beams and causing that portion of the roof to cave in. While frantic efforts were being made for planks to support the roof so that carpenters could remove the roofing sheets for renovation and re-roofing to be carried out the entire half of the roof on the northern side completely collapsed in the night at Monday March 27th 2000 and the early hours of Tuesday 28th March. In the process a large chunk of the top wall of the western side fell on the dwarf wall in the front and demolished a large portion of it. The other side of the roof had also dangerously sank in with most of the roofing sheets cracked.
The debris has been removed and the parish is faced with the task of re-roofing and the repairs of the broken walls. The total cost is estimated about thirty million cedisœ. This is a very big task and the strength of the church is too small. But we sincerely believe that with God all things are possible and that He will rebuild His church. In this faith we have appealed to sister parishes, other churches and well-wishers for help.
Unfortunately too just before this period of crisis our parish priest Rev. S K Addison has been transferred and no priest has been posted here to replace him. The Archdeacon of Sekondi is now acting as Parish Priest and together with other visiting priests do worship with us in two of the classrooms of the primary school. To give you a clear picture of the situation we enclose photographs of the demolished church. We are determined to rebuild the church with the help of God. In sending you, our benefactors, this report and appeal, we remember with pride and gratitude your inestimable help to us in the past and we pray that you will remember the parish of St Mary's the Virgin in your prayers, apart from any material or financial assistance you may send. Thanks. Yours in Christ... footnote: at the exchange rate of 7022 prevailing on 23 May 2000, cedis 30M = £4272. |
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page last updated 29 MAY 2000 |
