Locals Get Ready For Bath Abbey’s Great Bake Sale

Over 25 community groups, businesses and schools from all around the city will be taking part in the Great Bath Bake Sale at Bath Abbey on Saturday 18th October 2014, 1pm to 4pm.

In an event first for the Abbey, the church’s recently restored North aisle will be lined with cakes, bakes and sweet treats while the South transept will host a coffee and tea station run by volunteers.

Among those contributing cakes, baked goods and pastries are businesses such as Bonhams Auctioneers and the Piano Shop Bath to catering companies such as Nibbled Catering and Katrina’s Cakes.

Students from Norland College and the University of Bath’s Baking Appreciation Society have also been keen to offer their baking skills, not to mention the Abbey’s own congregation and community groups comprising Tower Tour guides, a team of stewards, welcomers and chaplains , the crèche and ‘Sparklers’ children’s group and the Bath Abbey branch of Mothers’ Union.

There will also be a ‘Best of Bath’ table featuring a selection of delicious treats from a number of the city’s independent cafes and bakeries including Made by Ben, Thoughtful Bread Company, Sam’s Kitchen and deli, Vineyards Bath and The Pump Room Restaurant.

The Bertinet Kitchen is also getting involved by hosting free bread making workshops for children.

Katie McGill, Bath Abbey’s Fundraising Administrator, said: “Baking fever has taken hold of everyone at the Abbey!

“We’ve simply been overwhelmed by the number of people wanting to get involved by baking or hosting a table.

“We could have enough cakes to fill the Abbey’s North aisle three times over. Now we just need people to get behind us by coming along to buy and eat the cakes!”

Laura Brown, Footprint Appeal Director, said: “Bath Abbey is in desperate need of repair and renovation. For hundreds of years, people have been worshipping, visiting and using the Abbey, walking on the stone floor.

“All this puts a massive strain on the building – we’re bursting at the seams! The floor is slowly collapsing, space is severely restricted, and the building is struggling to cope with the huge numbers of people who use the Abbey every day.

“Our vision for Footprint is to maintain and make the most of what we have in order to continue inspiring all for hundreds, if not thousands, of years to come.  And what better way to bring people together in aid of this good cause, than over a slice of cake?”

The event is open to members of the public of all ages and will include the chance to sit and enjoy a slice of cake in one of the most architecturally inspiring and atmospheric churches in the country.

All proceeds from the Bake Sale go towards Bath Abbey’s Footprint project, plus charities Bath FareShare and Bath FoodCycle.

Bath Abbey needs to raise £7 million in order to unlock a further £10 million of Heritage Lottery Funding for its Footprint project – an initiative to carry out essential repairs to stabilise the Abbey’s floor and make the building more sustainable.

The project will see the Abbey introduce an innovative eco-friendly underfloor heating system using Bath’s famous hot springs as a source of energy, as well as create 200 sq metres of additional space and improve facilities to ensure Bath Abbey is more hospitable and usable for the half a million people who use it every year.

For more information about The Great Bath Bake Sale visit www.bathabbey.org/greatbathbakesale.