A New Gate for St Rumon's, Made with Local Hands

9 Jul

There's something special happening at St. Rumon's this month — our little church is about to welcome a beautiful new hand-made gate, and it comes with a story worth telling.

If you’ve visited St Rumon's recently you will have noticed that the old gate was well past its best. It wouldn't open or close, had come loose from its hinges and much of the wood had rotted through. It had served the church faithfully for many years, but it was well and truly time for a replacement!

The gate is being beautifully crafted by David Ames, a parishioner and skilled cabinet maker, who has given his time and considerable talent to create something that will welcome visitors and worshippers alike for years to come. Anyone who has seen David's work will know the care and craftsmanship that goes into everything he makes, and this gate is no exception.

The oak itself has an equally generous story behind it. It was donated by Geoff Duck, another parishioner, whose gift of his own locally grown wood, gave David exactly what he needed to bring the design to life. It's a wonderful example of the kind of quiet generosity that keeps a small parish like Romansleigh going — people giving what they can, whether that's materials, time, or skills.

There's something fitting about a church gate made entirely from within the parish community. Every time someone walks through it, they'll be passing through a small piece of Romansleigh's own history, craftsmanship and kindness.

And there's more to come — a new bench, made from the very same oak, is also in the works. It will sit alongside the gate as a matching piece, giving visitors somewhere to pause and take in St Rumon's a little longer.

We're enormously grateful to both David and Geoff for their generosity, and we can't wait to see the finished gate in place at St Rumon's. Do come and take a look next time you're passing — and if you see David or Geoff around the village, be sure to thank them for their gift to the church.