Raising The Roof for our community in Pill!

Situated at the heart of the community in Pill (Newport), St Stephen’s Church has been a vital local asset for generations. Now, its building is under threat —and without your support, this beacon of hope could close its doors forever

The Raising The Roof campaign is urgently appealing to residents of Newport and friends across the UK to give generously, so that the church continues to function as essential resource for families, young people, and our disadvantaged neighbours

Every gift, large or small, brings us closer to our goal and ensures St Stephen’s can continue standing as a place of shelter, solidarity, and community. Please give today and help us secure our future!

Serving our community in Pill

St Stephen’s stands as an island of hope in the heart of Pillgwenlly – known to local residents as “Pill”

Once a thriving commercial zone centered around Newport docks, the area has endured decades of economic decline and faces stark challenges:

- 37% of local children live in poverty, this is far above the Welsh national average

- The neighbourhood is ranked in the top 5% of the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation

- The area is an important reception area for migrants, many of whom struggle to integrate into the local community without support

- Anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, drug addiction, prostitution, fly-tipping and vandalism have a constant and visible presence in the area

The church leadership and wider congregation are in constant battle against this deprivation, working tirelessly to breathe new life into Pill - an area which so desperately needs positive investment and rejuvenation

More than a church - a community hub!

Built by the Victorians to support dockworkers and economic migrants, St Stephens remains on the frontline of community-building efforts in Newport over a century later. The streets around the church form one of Newport’s most culturally diverse communities – a vibrant tapestry of languages, traditions, shared hopes, and shared aspirations

St Stephen’s is not just a church, but a fully-functioning community centre which is deeply woven into the lives of Pill's residents. The church provides a wide range of local services, many of which are 100% free of charge and open to people of all faiths and backgrounds. These include:

- Youth groups

- School holiday clubs

- Community foodbank

- Clothing swap shop

- Cost-of-living support initiatives

- Weekly drop-in café

- Public meeting space

- The annual “bags of hope” Christmas food campaign

Besides offering these practical services, the church also serves as an ever-present, friendly beacon of hope for local residents. Many people living in Pill are recent arrivals to the city who would struggle to integrate into the local community without a support network. Other residents have simply “fallen through the cracks” of underfunded local government services and turn to the church instead

Why are we “Raising the Roof”?

Our building is under threat

The roof at St Stephen’s is failing. Damp and structural issues are worsening, and without urgent repair, we risk not only the deterioration of the building but the permanent closure of these vital community services

Church buildings can be difficult & expensive to maintain, and St Stephen's is no exception. While some funds to replace the roof have already been sourced, there is a funding gap of £30,000 which the Raising The Roof must raise before any roof replacement work can start

The project will:

- Replace the entire roof of St Stephen’s, making the building watertight again

- Prevent further internal damage due to water getting in

- Protect all of the community services currently operating on site

Raising The Roof will be the first phase of wider programme to upgrade the entire church, its grounds, and the community hall, delivering real social change and regenerating the heart of the community in Pill

How you can help!

We are asking people across Newport and the wider public to donate generously to Raising The Roof campaign so that the church can continue to function as a vital resource for community groups, families and disadvantaged people within Pill. Please help us to spread love, unity, and belonging by Raising The Roof for our community in Pill!

Thank you!