Since early 2021 we have raised over $332,000 for restorations on the 177-year old St Andrews building (costed at $1.8 million in 2020 prices, which have since escalated greatly).

$201,457 has been spent so far on

• a Survey by structural engineer John Bowley and heritage architects Hosking Willis, 

• making the front Spire safe (G-Force), allowing the front door to be re-opened after 18 months' closure, 

• restoring Roof, Gutters & Masonry on the Vestry and the western end of the Church (also G-Force), and

• cleaning the Bell and top three levels of the Clock Tower, as well as making the Tower bird-proof.

$30,000 has now been reserved for urgent internal repairs to the Vestry and $3,648 is reserved for further work on the Clock Tower after most of $25,000 donated for the Tower was spent on cleaning the Bell. The main Clock Tower restoration is a later project, as is the Interior of the church. They can only be costed when the time comes. 

We are seeking $1 million towards fully restoring the rest of the Roof, Gutters, and then the front Spire and facade, for which we currently have over $97,000. ​

Donations can be made by direct debit to St Andrews Strathalbyn Restoration Fund, BSB: 105-019, Account: 047 416 240.​

      OR at the Raisely crowdfunding site: https://st-andrews-restoration.raiselysite.com/ ​

​Funding sources:

Three State Heritage grants have been received, for the Roof & Gutters ($20,000), for the Spire ($10,000), and for the Survey ($5,000) as well as an Alexandrina Council Heritage Grant ($2,000) for the Spire. We are most grateful for generous donations from the congregation and community, including: $25,000 from the Rankine family designated for the Clock Tower, $2,000 from the Strathalbyn Tourist Association, $2,584 from an Alexandrina Singers concert, $650 from the Strath Collective, $610 from customers of Maidments Meat Service, $516 from the Strathalbyn Players and $516 from Gilberts Motor Museum (both proceeds of a High Street History Tour), $500 from the Senior Citizens' Club, $500 from Meningie Uniting Church, and many others including our own congregation. Three donors have connections with our history: a descendant of Rev R Drummond who conducted early services in the 1840s, a great-great nephew of Edward Stirling who donated the church bell in 1869, and a very generous donation from Scotland as a tribute to the life of Edward Stirling and his schoolmaster John Bowman of St Vigeans. This was from William Clark who lives near the village of St Vigeans by Arbroath in Scotland, where Edward was educated.

Fundraising events: A series of 'Save Our St Andrews' concerts, history tours and other events from May 2021 up to the present time has so far raised over $72,000.