A Crowdfunding appeal to raise £10,000 to ensure the future of a "wonderful asset" has been launched.

St Mary's Church House Hall is at risk of closure unless funding can be found and money is needed to recoup some of the loss from 2020 and 2021 so far and to make sure it can continue as a community space for years to come.

Monty Crook, chairman of St Mary's Church Hall Trust, said: "Hall finances have been badly hit by the series of Covid-19 restrictions - the various lockdown situations of the past year and additional associated expenses.

"The hall was shut due to lockdowns and restrictions for a total of 235 days in 2020 alone and full use this year may not be achieved until after June or as late as September. All income is derived from hire fees - so no income when the hall has to be shut.

"Our hire income for 2020 was down by 55 per cent compared with 2019, and the annual loss was 40 per cent of our reserves."

The management committee is responsible for cleaning and caretaking, decoration, repairs, renewals, maintenance and utilities but is leased from Magna Housing.

Mr Crook added: "Of course, the committee is doing what it can to reduce any expenditure which can be avoided, postponed or cancelled altogether, but we have to acknowledge the very real prospect that our reserves may not last further than another 'bad' year or two.

"This valued amenity faces a genuine risk to its future within the next 12 to 24 months if additional funding cannot be found to provide support until a level of 'normality' returns.

"St Mary's Church House Hall is a vital local community resource, allowing people of all ages from the local community and beyond to engage in a wide variety of activities.

"The hall was rented by more than 40 different organisations, groups and entities in 2019 alone, for a total of 1,948 hours and the loss of such a venue would have real ramifications for these groups in terms of the premises they are able to secure at a sustainable rate for the service they provide."

Before the pandemic, many groups regularly used the hall, including Bridport Ceilidhs, Bridport Folk Dance Club, Local Vocals, Bridport Dog Training Society, Yoga and Sound Therapy, Bridport Scottish Dancers, Bridport Youth Dance, Bridport Local Food Group, Bridport Folk Festival, Slimming World, Tots Time, the Christmas Hampers and more.

Nikki Northover of Bridport Youth Dance said: "St Mary's Church Hall is a wonderful asset for the town of Bridport, where there is limited space available for the community."

Malcolm Laws, chairman of Bridport Scottish Dancers, said: "We have been using Church House Hall for about 25 years on a regular basis, it is a very important amenity for us - without it, and halls like it around the country, clubs like ours would not exist.

"It is obvious that the hall has lost almost all its income and needs to be supported so it is ready for us and all the other clubs and groups that have used it in the past and hope to use it in the future.

"The hall… deserves all the support it can get so that it can continue to be a valued venue for many clubs and groups to meet, for the wellbeing of the residents of Bridport and the surrounding area. I believe it would be a great loss to us and the locality if this did not get the support it needs to be able to remain open."

John Haylock, chairman of the New Elizabethan Singers, said: "Without doubt the use of Church Hall House is crucial to our continued use of the church as a venue.

"I cannot over-emphasise the importance of this facility to our choir if we are to continue… it would be a major loss to the whole community if it were to be removed from use."

Jean Mitchell, of Bridport Dog Training, also said the hall is "invaluable" to them.

Chris Deacon, of Bridport Folk Festival, said: "I have personally booked the hall on many occasions over the years for charity fundraising and social events and have attended many events and functions held there over the last 40 years, varying from badminton to wakes.

"It has always been and should remain an essential asset to the church, the town, its residents and visitors. The demise of Church House Hall should never be on any agenda - it should be preserved at all costs."

The Crowdfunder can be found here.

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