Community groups need your help to give ‘massive hug’ to Little Massingham Church

Two groups have joined forces to launch an ambitious project to wrap a West Norfolk church in a giant “quilted hug”.

The Friends of St Andrew’s Church Little Massingham (FOSALM) and Quilts 4 Care Leavers (Q4CL) are working together to create a huge quilt to go around the outside of the church which they have said is in need of a “big hug” due to past vandalism.

The aim is also to raise the final part of money needed to finish restoring the church roof.

The major project will be launched next Saturday November 4, and take around six months to complete. In a bid to turn the idea into a reality, the organisers are appealing for public support to create around 50 quilt tops.

A spokesperson said: “The church desperately needs the comforting ‘hug’ as, over a number of years, thieves have stripped the lead from the roof.

“The mammoth, and very colourful quilt, will also raise money to restore the damaged roof. At the end of the project, Q4CL will divide the quilt into individual quilt ‘hugs’ to give to young adults leaving the care system.”

Rosemary Jewers, a trustee of FOSALM, said: “In the first phase, we are recruiting people willing to help make what will become an enormous colourful patchwork quilt.

“Where possible we are hoping the majority of the patchwork quilt tops will be made from, or incorporate, repurposed cotton.

“The Friends of St Andrew’s Church Little Massingham welcome anyone who can help. Each of the finished hugs – top sections of patchwork – will be joined with others to make one enormous quilt to wrap around St Andrew’s Church, Little Massingham, giving it that much-needed hug.”

It is hoped the ambitious venture will raise the final part of the £122,000 needed for the roof.

Once the quilt has ‘hugged’ the church the individual quilts will be given to some of the many teenagers who leave the care system.

Maggie Lloyd-Jones, the founder of Q4CL said: “We are delighted to be working with FOSALM on this project. We founded Quilts 4 Care Leavers in 2018 for the simple purpose of providing a ‘quilted hug’ to care leavers aged between 16 and 25 who are living independently after their time in the local authority care system has come to an end.”

Rosemary added: “The highly colourful quilt will raise money by offering people the chance to sponsor a quilt block or square. When donations are made any dedication messages will be preserved by adding them to a special memory book.”

While FOSALM is fundraising and organising the project, Q4CL will deal with the distribution of the quilts.

Anyone wanting to support the project can do so by stitching sections or donate/sponsor a square at www.fosalm.org

The “Let’s Give a Quilt Hug” launch will be at the church from 10am to 1.30pm.

Come and support the venture, see the first completed quilts and purchase some craft items.