A historic church in Bocking has moved a step closer to a vital upgrade thanks to a generous four-figure donation. St Mary’s Church has received £1,000 from homebuilder Redrow, directly funding essential improvements to its deteriorating sound system. The gift aims to ensure worshippers, community groups, and visitors can enjoy crystal-clear audio and a more accessible, welcoming environment for years to come.
Community Fund support
The donation has been awarded through Redrow's Community Fund, which supports charities, community groups, and local organisations making a positive difference in their communities. St Mary's Church welcomes nearly 100 people across its Sunday services and continues to play an important role in community life, hosting weddings, christenings, funerals, charity events, concerts, and local activities throughout the year.
Fundraising target
The church is currently fundraising towards a £3,000 target to replace its sound system, which has significantly deteriorated over time. The current system has affected sound quality throughout the building and made it harder for some visitors and congregation members, including those who rely on the church’s hearing loop, to fully participate in services and events. Redrow's £1,000 contribution will help bring the church closer to completing the upgrade.
Once installed, the new system will improve sound quality throughout the building, support accessibility for those with hearing impairments, and help St Mary’s continue serving as a welcoming space for the wider Bocking community.
Reactions from church and Redrow
The Reverend Rod Reid, of St Mary's Church, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Redrow Eastern for this generous donation. St Mary's plays an important role in the lives of many people across Bocking and the surrounding area, welcoming worshippers, community groups, and visitors throughout the year. Our sound system has become increasingly unreliable and has started to affect accessibility within the church, particularly for those who rely on the hearing loop. Redrow's donation brings us significantly closer to our fundraising goal and means we can complete these important improvements much sooner than expected. The upgrade will make a real difference to everyone who uses the church.”
Jody Bryant, sales director at Redrow Eastern, added: “St Mary's Church has been part of community life in Bocking for generations, supporting residents through Sunday services, family occasions, charity events, and local gatherings. We’re pleased our Community Fund can help the church move closer to completing these important improvements, ensuring more people can hear clearly, feel included, and continue enjoying this much-loved local space.”
As well as Redrow’s Community Fund, the housebuilder also supports local organisations and community groups across Essex via the Barratt Redrow Foundation Home. Since 2021, the foundation has donated more than £17.2m to over 2,100 charities, supporting hundreds of communities nationwide. To find out more about Redrow homes across Essex and the East of England, visit redrow.co.uk/locations/east-england or call 01268 977386.
