Prize-winning film helps restore faith

Apr 28 2009 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

Prize-winning film helps restore faith

A UNIQUE film chronicling the ‘rising from the ashes’ success of Bankfoot Church has scooped top prize in Perth Camcorder Club’s annual competition and is raising funds for this local ‘good news’ story.

And for its maker, Paul Jackson, the making of the video developed from an interesting project into spiritual enlightenment.

Keen amateur film-maker Paul (52) explained: “Bankfoot Church burned down in 2004 and I decided to make a film of the new one being built, putting it together as an historical account and also to raise funds for the church.

“The 28-minute film was judged best film of 2009 by Perth Camcorder Club. I presented the film to the church to sell it to raise funds, and I’m delighted that sales have been very good.

Paul’s film opens to the drama of February 25, 2004, when the prominent 19th century church towering above the village was devastated by fire, leaving it a burnt out shell and the congregation of Auchtergaven and Moneydie without their place of worship.

The Regeneration of Bankfoot Church documents the acquisition by the parish of a field destined to be the site of the new eco-friendly Bankfoot Church and Community Centre, the building work and the opening celebration held on October 22 last year.

“The film has pupils from the local school, the church choir and local groups, bagpipes and hymns,” said Paul, a butcher with Simon Howie.

“It’s of interest to the whole local community and will be a reminder in years to come of how just a field was transformed into the beautiful church centre which is now playing such a large part of our community.”

Paul added: “I used to be a church member when I lived in Bedfordshire but I sort of lost my faith.

“I started off making the film just out of film-making interest. But during the project there was a point where it changed from filming a building into filming a church, and it enlightened me to go back to church on Sundays.”

Paul has been a member of Perth Camcorder Club – which has recently changed its name to Perth Filmmaking Club – for seven years and enjoyed success on a national scale with a previous project.

“I wrote a script and directed a film about two years ago which got into the last eight in the British Amateur Film Awards and a third at the Guernsey Film Festival.”

The Regeneration of the Bankfoot Church is for sale in aid of church funds from Bankfoot Church Centre, email admin@bankfootchurch.org.uk