Monthly gigs helping protect church's future
Paul RodgersA church has been holding monthly music gigs to raise money to help safeguard its future.
Paul Rodgers, event coordinator at St George's Venue in Hartlepool, said the idea of using the town's United Reform Church building for performances was initially greeted with scepticism.
The project went ahead in 2018 after St George's secured a grant for £50,000 from the Northern Synod of the United Reformed Church to install a new sound system and lighting.
Rodgers said organising the gigs was "very hard work" but more than 100 people were now regularly in attendance, with upcoming artists including Kiki Dee and Ashley Campbell.
"For future generations, we want the church to be there," Rodgers said.
"Now we are running a different concert every month and that is enough for the congregation and volunteers to manage."
Paul RodgersChris Eddowes, who has been attending the church for more than 40 years, said people had not been precious about the changes.
"My job is to sell tickets and people come along and tell me they have never been in St George's before," she said.
"They feel a welcoming atmosphere and they feel comfortable there."
St George's has a history of music being played at the church and musicians are depicted in the stained glass windows in the west transept.
Some of the upcoming artists who will be playing at the church this year include Ashley Campbell, Jim Causley and Miranda Sykes, Vicky Clayton, Kiki Dee and Carmelo Luggeri, and the Tamahill Weavers.
