Community cookbook fundraiser raises more than £2,300 for St Martin's Church in East Woodhay

The release of a community cookbook helped to raise more than £2,300 in aid of St Martin’s Church in East Woodhay at a special fundraiser.

The cookbook was put together by committee members of St Martin’s Guild and was filled with recipes contributed by members of the local community, alongside personalised tales of where the recipes came from or how they’d been used previously.

Examples included Irish soda bread by resident Mark Keenan, with a message that said: “First served in a quaint little pub in Galway.

“The publican was kind enough to share his recipe. It’s ridiculously easy – just mix the ingredients and bake.”

As if to prove it, Mr Keenan brought along a loaf he’d made to the fundraiser, which was confirmed by the guild’s secretary Sarah Leventhorpe as being “delicious”.

As well as the cookbook – titled the ‘East Woodhay Cookery Book’ – the East Woodhay Artisans sold their usual homemade wares, including cushions, lampshades and other home-sewn items.

Mrs Leventhorpe said the event – which took place on Saturday at the church – had gone “really well”.

She said: “The artisans had made all their lovely things and the cookbook sold well and we sold out of cakes so it was a good day’s fundraising.

“I think people were surprised about how beautiful the cookbook was in terms of the layout and it’s very clean in the way it’s written.

“Some cookbooks are a jumble of recipes while with this people were just pleased and loved how it looks.

“It was pleasing for people who’d sweated a lot of time over it. It was a very good Saturday.”

The money will partly go towards repairs to St Martin’s Church, which needs £28,000 to repair a design fault in the bell tower’s lead roof and £12,000 to get the clock working again.

It will also be put towards other community needs, such as St Martin’s School and its playground equipment.

Mrs Leventhorpe said the cookbook remained on sale, while the guild was now planning for its events in 2022.

She continued: “We’re continuing to sell the books in the lead up to Christmas and my colleagues on the committee who put it together have had orders from people who weren’t able to come on Saturday.

“They’ve put out the word – I think there will be a stream of people buying it for stocking fillers.

“We’re now planning for next year – there’s the feat and at the same time we’re also planning a community party.”