Two hymns tie for top place as donations exceed target

The Hymnathon at St. Michael and All Angels raised over £32,000 towards a new organ for the church. The 542nd hymn was completed just after 6.30p.m. on Saturday.

There was a tie for the two hymns that raised most money. In a flurry of last-minute donations, O Praise Ye The Lord and Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer raised £1,010 each and were sung at the end.

The target of £30,000 was surpassed and the total raised on the Hymnathon JustGiving page was £32,062, which will raise to over £37,000 when Gift Aid is calculated. Donations can still be given for a while longer.

The Hymnathon was judged to be a remarkable experience and the Vicar of St. Michael & All Angels, Fr. Kevin Morris said the event was so memorable it would have been worthwhile in itself.

"We are absolutely delighted with the way the Hymnathon went. It was far more moving and involving than I ever expected. There was a contagious sense of joy - people loved singing, they loved being there, they loved the hospitality. Many people popped in for a few minutes and stayed for hours - and some came from a long way away. And I never thought we'd reach our financial target for the weekend, let alone exceed it!"

The competition to name the most hymns containing the word 'divine', marking the start of Fairtrade Fortnight, was won by Anne Mower, Reader at St Michael & All Angels. She found no fewer than 58, and wins a Divine Chocolate selection box.

However the fundraisers cannot rest on their laurels, as they will shortly be starting a longterm 'Pay for a Pipe or Buy a Brick' scheme. Other planned fundraising events, include a gala performance of Gilbert & Sullivan's Trial by Jury on Saturday April 28th.

Other information can be found at the following links:

www. smaaa.org.uk
www.smaaa.org.uk/news_events/Hymnathon.html

February 23, 2012