Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Wexford Church development lotto scrapped

A fundraising lottery initiated for the redevelopment of a County Wexford Church 10 years ago has had to be suspended, as it is no longer generating any funds.

Barntown Church, in the Diocese of Ferns, held its last draw in June of this year when the jackpot of €14,000 was won by a single ticket holder and now the parish plans to hold no more draws.

Speaking this week to the Wexford People newspaper, Barntown curate and Ferns Diocesan spokesperson Fr John Carroll said, “The decision to end the lotto was taken after it emerged that it was not making enough money to service the €400,000 debt on the church and that it was hoped that the parish would come up with an alternative fundraiser in the Autumn.”

The original renovations on the church cost in the region of €700,000 and with repayments totalling over €26,000 annually and interest in the lottery waning, it was decided to suspend it.

However, Fr Carroll stated that over the past 10 years the lottery had helped make significant inroads into the churches debt but that “it was not sustainable in the long run.”

Fr Carroll also confirmed that a detailed breakdown of Barntown parish finances would also be published on what is known as ‘Finance Sunday' in the Diocese of Ferns on September 12.

It is expected that a new fundraising venture will be announced shortly after this date.

SIC: CIN