Seven Spanish villagers crowdfund 30,000 Euros to save crumbling church
A remote Spanish village of seven people has saved it’s unique 16th century church from imminent collapse by raising money through crowdfunding.
The church of San Lorenzo Martir in Fuenteodra, a hamlet set in a natural park near Burgos in the north, was closed 15 years ago, having fallen into despair after decades of neglect.
Its walls are riven by large cracks and its roof is in ruins, a victim of what is called ‘Empty Spain”- rural parts of the country suffering from depopulation.
The Sunday Times reports that the community has raised the 30,000 Euros needed for the first phase of its rescue.
“Just a week ago, we launched a call to get the remaining 20,000 Euros that was needed to begin the restoration of the church”, said Hispania Nostra, a conservation group that has helped raise awareness of the villages’ campaign.
“Despite the economic crisis, the response has exceeded the most optimistic expectations, more than 40 micro donors, mostly national but some from outside our borders, have made it possible to reach the figure with contributions ranging from 10 Euros to 1,000 Euros”.
The building is a rare masterpiece of the Brabantine Gothic Style and it boasts a gilt baroque alterpiece, renaissance doorway, high vaulted ceiling and refined stone carving. But despite its impressive buttressed walls, which are largely covered in algae and bare where the plaster has fallen away, it is on the brink of destruction.
The church will need another 270,000 Euros to carry out the required basic rescue work.