BIRMINGHAM, England — A Church of England rector who needed an extra $22,500 to repair the roof of his 12th century church raised nearly all of the sum needed by reviving a 12th century custom: sitting outside his church with a begging bowl one Saturday.
John Ganjavi was told the roof of St. Nicholas, Beaudesert, Henley-in-Arden, 15 miles south of Birmingham, would not last another winter. Repairing it would cost $97,500. English Heritage, the official body that looks after England’s artistic and architectural heritage, provided a grant of $49,500, while the parish raised another $25,500.
Ganjavi’s day with a begging bowl raised $18,750, while a further $1,650 came in subsequently thanks to the publicity aroused.
In addition, so many of those giving made use of Gift Aid, the government program under which the government refunds to a charity the tax paid on donations made by taxpayers, that the parish has exceeded its goal.
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