Church still needs at least RM800,000

by Jacqueline Raphael, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on March 11, 2012, Sunday

SUPPORTIVE: Archdeacon Solomon (standing centre) and church members at the site of the new St Columba Church building after yesterdays prayer session.

MIRI: The earthbreaking ceremony and piling for the first pillar for the new St Columbas Anglican Church building at Jalan Brighton took place with a simple prayer at the construction site yesterday.

The prayer session was conducted by the parish Vicar, Venerable Archdeacon Solomon Cheong.

We have carried out numerous fundraising drives among members and managed to raise about RM1.2 million to cover the construction cost.

But we are still in need of at least RM800,000 for furniture and fixtures, he told thesundaypost after the earthbreaking ceremony yesterday.

A fundraising dinner would therefore be held at Imperial Hotel on June 16 this year to raise the amount needed, followed by a carnival sales on Sept 1.The new church building expected to be completed by Nov 30 this year will have a floor area of 10,200 sq ft and could sit 1,000 parishioners.

It will have a main worship hall, altar and chancel, Lady Chapel, waiting room, vestry, arch room, gallery, patio and steeple.

St Columba Parish founded in 1922 was named after an Irish missionary in the sixth century. The first building was consecrated on March 18 that year by Bishop F S Hollis.

The second building was built in 1968 and the first building turned into a kindergarten until this day.

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Church still needs at least RM800,000