Not the warmest welcome for new rector as Newport church faces £40k boiler bill

Leaders at a Newport church have launched an appeal for funds after the boiler broke just weeks before the busiest time of the year.

Last week, the team at St Nicholas Church in Newport revealed the heating system had broken down and was “beyond economical repair”.

It wasn’t the warmest welcome for new rector, Reverend Pippa White, who had been in the role for just one week.

Now, just two weeks before Remembrance Sunday and ten weeks before Christmas, the team are hurriedly fundraising to replace the system in time for the start of the busiest time of the year.

“It’s quite an old boiler; from what I understand, it’s older than I am,” said Pippa, 31.

“Parts of it are broken, and they just don’t make them anymore. We’ve got lots of different options, and we’re trying to find which one works out best for us, but if we were looking at getting something similar it would be around £40,000. There are some grants that we might be able to tap into, but it’s going to be quite pricey.”

With November and December packed full of school carol services and festive celebrations, Pippa said the timing was like “something from a Greek tragedy”.

But the beloved events will “100 per cent” carry on as usual - but parishioners may be advised to wrap up.

“I’m very much someone who, I can make it work, I will make it work,” she said.

“We’ve got blankets at the back of church - I joked at a Christening on Sunday that we might need to start handing out hot water bottles, but that’s not actually a bad idea!”

Despite the chilly start to her new job, Pippa said her reception from the town had been full of warmth.

“It’s been so life-giving, I’ve had such a nice welcome,” she said.

“Newport is a really lovely town with so much going on. At the moment I’m just trying to meet as many people as possible.”

Donations to the fundraiser can be made online at givealittle.co or via a card machine in the church near the entrance.