TAVISTOCK Parish Church has begun the New Year with wide interest in its sponsorship scheme, unveiled in November.
The innovative scheme, first reported in the Times in November, was featured on local television and national radio, and in the Daily Telegraph.
It highlights the influence of the church on the parish, its availability to all as a town centre facility, and seeks to establish firm finances for the future.
On Monday, representatives of St Eustachius' church met with Tavistock Chamber of Commerce to introduce the scheme in person.
The priest-in-charge of Tavistock, the Rev Michael Brierley, said: 'This is a long-term project to strengthen support between the church and the town for years to come.
'The unveiling helped to alert people to what the scheme is all about. Now we need to explain it personally to people.
'I am hugely grateful to those businesses and services — 15 at the last count — who have already become "Sponsors of St Eustachius", and to those many individuals who have recently become Friends — your support is enormously appreciated.'
The Chair of the Friends of St Eustachius, Dr John Rea, said: 'I've been greatly impressed by the range of businesses and services which have become sponsors — funeral directors, a pasty shop, a wine merchant, a furniture company, an arts festival, a hotel, a builder and plasterer, and a natural health centre.
'I'm delighted that the church has such strong links with all of these, and I hope that many more will follow suit in 2009.'