On 30 May, a Teddington vicar, David Cloake, will parachute jump 12,000ft to raise money to build vital facilities for St Mary with St Alban Church.

With planning permission running out in December this year, Teddington's impassioned community (who rose to fame from the "Save Park Stables" campaign that hit National headlines two years ago) are at it again. 

Father David is raising money to build vital facilities fir St Mary with St Alban Church (Credit: Nub News)

The group has been fundraising against the clock to raise £1m to equip Teddington's historic parish church with much-needed facilities to make it truly welcoming for all.

The 52-year-old has been a vicar in Teddington for 15 months and is already a much-loved personality in the community. 

In typical fashion, he has thrown himself into this dangerous challenge to help raise the final £350K needed to make these facilities a reality for the community. 

The new facilities (including community space, kitchenette, and the 800-year-old building's first toilets) will significantly improve wellbeing and community cohesion across all generations. 

As well as protecting Teddington's heritage, the facilities will ensure the church's long-term sustainability through volunteering, outreach, participation, and accessibility.

Inspired by the impending planning deadline and the upcoming post-Easter Ascension, Father David will travel to Headcorn in Kent to climb a height of 12,000ft to complete his tandem parachute jump.

The vicar said: "The job of the vicar is to encourage the weak to not be afraid and the strong to carry more. 

"In jumping terms, I can carry more. I feel called to do what I can. 

"I am not sporty, but I am a little lardy, so of course gravity is my friend."

Father David onsiders himself a daredevil (Image supplied)

While he may not be a fan of conventional sports like running, intrepid father-of two considers himself a bit of a daredevil - he says he has tried Paragliding (loved it) and says he would have considered a Bungee Jump or abseil down the side of Teddington's Landmark Arts Centre. 

Father David's jump will be celebrated by local figures, family, friends and the community at a Watch Party at Teddington Parish Hall the day after the jump on Saturday, 1 June. 

You can donate to Father David's  jump here and you can get tickets to the Watch event here.

You can find out more information about the building project here or by emailing [email protected]

To find out more, contact Teddington Parish directly on 020 8943 2262.