AN EAST Cornwall community is celebrating after winning a national competition to find the most innovative church fundraising idea. The ?little concert? to raise funds for the Stoke Climsland parish church roof, conceived seven years ago, has grown to become one of the highlights of the Westcountry musical calendar. Pitted against eleven other finalists in the Ecclesiastical Insurance?s competition, which originally attracted hundreds of entries, the winner was announced at a presentation evening at Windsor Castle. Parochial church council member Katherine Carnegie, who attended the presentation, said with such a variety of fantastic fundraising ideas, ranging from Highland Games to a language school and full sized angel art exhibition, she was flabbergasted but absolutely thrilled that Stoke Climsland had taken the prize. ?We found out on the night and it was such a surprise,? she said. ?I did not think a tiny village in Cornwall could win this, but it is testament to the whole village and the way the community has pulled together to make it happen.? The Whiteford Music Festival, which encompasses jazz, classical music and a rock and pop family event, now attracts more than 2,000 people each year, raising around £8,000 for the church. Mrs Carnegie said: ?We were offered the beautiful grounds of Whiteford to put on our concert and that has no doubt helped in its success but to get national recognition like this is fantastic. ?I just wish everyone in the village could have been there to accept the award.? A cheque for £1,500 was given to the church and an opportunity to star in the company?s nationally distributed calendar for 2008, together with the eleven other finalists. Mrs Carnegie said only three of the team behind the festival were regular churchgoers. ?Most of this festival is organised and run by the villagers,? she said. ?It is important for churches to realise that buildings are significant to a much wider community than the people who go regularly to church. ?Big moments in people?s lives are celebrated in churches and they mean something to the community. We are lucky to have such a great community in Stoke Climsland.? How the money is to be spent is yet to be decided, but the committee wants it to be something specific which benefits everyone in the village. One of the competition judges, John Preston, who is national stewardship and resources officer for the Church of England, said: ?Churches all over the country are being very creative and innovative in raising essential funds. ?Many great ideas are not only effective in raising funds but contributing to the life of the community and draw a church together. ?But sadly these great ideas aren?t always shared. ?This competition aims to pass those ideas on so that churches all over the country can benefit.?
