Since early 2021 we have raised $223,000 for urgent restorations on the 175-year old St Andrews building (costed at $1.8 million in 2020 prices, which have since escalated greatly).  $62,000 has been spent so far on a Survey by structural engineer John Bowley and heritage architects Hosking Willis, on making the front Spire safe, allowing the front door to be re-opened after 18 months' closure, and on planning for the next stages.  Restoring Roof, Gutters & Walls on the western end of the Church later this year will take most of the remaining $161,000.

So we are aiming to raise another $1 million towards fully restoring the rest of the Roof, Gutters, Spire and Masonry. 

The Clock Tower and the Interior are later projects, which can only be costed when the time comes.

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

Further information is below.

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Funding sources: Two State Heritage grants have been received, one for the Survey ($5,000) and one for the Spire ($10,000), and an Alexandrina Council Heritage Grant ($2,000) for the Spire. We are most grateful for generous donations from the community, including: $2,000 from the Strathalbyn Tourist Association, $2,584 from an Alexandrina Singers concert, $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, $300 from customers of Maidments Meat Service, 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, and a great-great nephew of Edward Stirling who donated the church bell in 1869. And we have received 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 February 2022 up to the present time has so far raised over $30,400.