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The Friends Of All Saints Church, Staplehurst
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Registered Charity No. 1037964 |
Contact Details
| Name | Office | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caroline Highwood | Chairman | (01580) 892787 | |
| Ron Dear | Honorary Treasurer | (01580) 891407 | |
| Marion Christie | Membership Secretary (Co-opted) | (01580) 892380 | N/A |
| Pam Mortley | Committee Member | (01580) 892100 | N/A |
| Maureen Brice | Committee Member | N/A | N/A |
| Ann Fulcher | Committee Member | N/A | N/A |
| Andrew Brady | Committee Member | (01580) 891840 | |
| Jonathan Drew | Committee Member | (01580) 890741 | N/A |
| Frank Tipples | Committee Member | N/A | N/A |
Proms Event - Saturday 19th September 2009
On behalf of the Friends of All Saints, I would like to thank everyone who helped to make the recent Proms Night such a tremendous success.The final total is not yet to hand, but is expected to be in the region of £500.
Marion Christie
| SHEPHERDS MARKET
Christmas is coming! Well maybe not just yet, but for those who like to make their plans in advance. please put the date of the Shepherds Market in your diary. It will be in the Church on Saturday, 5th December 2009, between 11.00am and 2.00pm. |
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| We are also interested in taking bookings from anybody who would like to have a stall on the day. If you wish to book a slot, please contact Maureen Brice on 01580 891842. |
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Caroline Highwood Chairman of the Friends of All Saints Church |
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Chairman's AGM Report for 2008/2009
This has been a fascinating year, and has simply zipped past. There were a number of events during the course of the year, which had the desired result of raising money towards works at the Church. Ron will give more details of the amounts in his presentation later, but it has meant that we have been able to fulfil all of our commitments to the Church, and also respond to a request made for assistance on general maintenance costs.The highlight of the year was the flower festival in September last year. This was the culmination of a couple of years of planning and very hard work, on behalf of Marion Christie and a small team of volunteers. Some of you may have heard that at the very last minute it was nearly scuppered by the flower wholesaler who failed to deliver on the agreed day. However, it takes more than that to daunt the people of Staplehurst - a mercy dash across country by Roger Munn and Jack Christie meant that flowers were procured, and the arrangers were set to work.
The results were spectacular, and the associated events were all highly enjoyable, thank you to everyone involved. Another highlight event of the year was the Shepherds Market in the Church. This has become a regular feature in the run up to Christmas, and provides an opportunity to buy some interesting and unusual craft and produce, to visit Father Christmas (at least for our younger visitors) and to enjoy a plate of shepherd's pie. Many thanks to the Committee and helpers for putting this on. Other events that took place during the year included a sponsored walk in August. I am grateful to Vic and Margaret Holdaway for leading this so ably, and to Linda Munn who provided the doughty walkers with a cream tea in her garden. This was an unexpected surprise - and a very pleasant way of adding back any calories that we may have shed on the walk. And last, but not least, we had “Shipwrecked with Music” in the Autumn; our version of the Radio 4 Desert Island discs. I am grateful to John Stewart for compeering this, and to Mary Shaw, Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy and Peter Day who were his victims, along with myself. We produced an eclectic, but very interesting selection of music between us.
Numbers this year are down to 114, so there is work to be done. Sadly we lost one of our staunchest supporters when Stuart Tipples died in January. He will be missed.
We are starting to build an email list to improve our ways of getting information and messages out to people. Sadly, I forgot to put an email contact point in the last newsletter, so there have not been an enormous number of responses - but I live in hope! In the coming year we have a number of events planned (one of which - the Brain Game - has already taken place. I will not list these all now, other than to put in a plug for the fete on 18 July this year where we will have our normal stall.
Finally, I would like to thank all members of the Committee for all of the sterling work they have put in during the course of the year. Several Members will be retiring; Marion Christie, Christine Glover, John Stewart and Christine Ward (although Marion has agreed to remain as Membership Secretary this will be as a non-committee member). I am grateful to all of these members, and hope that they stay close and support the Friends, even though they are letting others take a turn at directing events. I am also grateful to those committee members who are staying involved - Ron Dear, Pam Mortley and Andrew Brady. I hope that, together with the new committee members, we will continue to provide good support to All Saints.
Caroline Highwood
Treasurers AGM Report - April 2009
As previously requested by our Independent Examiner, the Accounts have been prepared to show Gross income, Expenditure, and Net income.Mary Shaw has kindly agreed and been appointed to audit these accounts.
Net income at -£3017.43 shows the increased commitments to Church funds as detailed below and in the accounts.
Your committee paid the Church maintenance costs of £1891. 91, Improvements to the Rectors vestry of £630.60 and South Aisle Roof repairs £6814.00. A further sum of £9200.00 has been set aside as help towards the update of Church Lighting. Please note that there are always discrepancies between the Friends and Church accounts due to differing financial years.
As usual Stocks of Wine, juices, mugs, notelets, sweat shirts etc. are not carried forward in these annual accounts but dealt with on a year by year basis. What are purchased and used during a calendar year are included within the costs of events where possible, but not carried or brought forward.
It was reported in last years Treasurers Report that there was a balance in Friends accounts allocated to the Choir of £6.60. This remains unused and is carried forward. The sum of £223.71 which was in last years Flower Festival accounts should be added to the £2025.59 in this years accounts which means that the overall profit to the Flower Festival for the two years is £2249.30.
The balance of Tax has been claimed for the fiscal year to 4 April 2008 and is included in these accounts. Tax has also been claimed, but not received in time for these accounts, for the period October to December 2008/9 and will show in next years accounts. The balance of tax reclamation for the fiscal year to 4 April 2009 will be made shortly and will enter next year's accounts.
I am obliged to fellow committee member Marion Christie for her help in the area of Members subscriptions and the completing of forms, Declarations and Bankers Orders to enable Tax reclamation. All Friends members - who pay Income Tax - should sign a declaration form to enable the tax to be reclaimed on their contribution. Members whose subscriptions etc. are reclaimed because they have signed a declaration which is still current should ensure that they are still tax payers. If they are no longer tax payers they should advise the Treasurer in writing.
Ron Dear - Honorary Treasurer
February 2009
Newsletter No. 44Dear Friends,
Thank you for your support and help over the last few months. This has helped us run some very successful events, the most notable of which was the flower festival back in September and the Shepherds' Market in December. Both of these saw large numbers of people coming into the Church to help with our fund raising, and, I hope, enjoying themselves. I am particularly grateful to Marion Christie, and all her helpers, for all of the work she put in to the flower festival, and to the Shepherds' Market.
We are working on the programme of events for the coming year and hope that you will find plenty to enjoy in the coming months. We have not fixed dates for everything yet, but we are planning the following events:
- Brain Game - Saturday, 25th April - come and join us at a fun quiz evening, and test your wits among friends.
- Summer fete (in July), to be combined with a themed basket auction. And if you want to know what a basket auction is - why not come along and find out?
- Sponsored walk - we are considering either the late May or August Bank holiday for a walk around the area.
- Shepherds Market - 5th December, in the Church.
Speaking of losing Committee members, John Stewart is moving out of the village, and therefore, will no longer be available to help people with the Bell Lane recycling. As you may know, the Friends are sponsors of the Bell Lane recycling facility and, as such, earn a regular income from the Borough. We therefore urge you to use this facility, and also to help in keeping it tidy. As John Stewart has for some years been our link for people who experience difficulties in getting their recycling to Bell Lane, if anyone needs assistance please let me know.
Finally, if anyone would prefer to receive this letter by email in the future, can you please let us have your email address. It will save us time and effort in arranging delivery, and means that we will be able to keep up with you more effectively, as we develop our programme of events.
Caroline Highwood, Chairman
Friends Sponsored Walk
On 25 August, several intrepid souls walked from Staplehurst to Frittenden and back, on behalf of the Friends of Staplehurst Church. This was to replace the walk which had had to be cancelled in May, due to bad weather. This time, we were much luckier - no rain! Indeed the cool, cloudy weather was very pleasant for walking. Our leaders were Vic and Margaret Holdaway, and they took us on a delightful route, combining woodland and meadow, as well as some rather more challenging ploughed fields. They had also arranged a surprise for us - a cream tea on the way home (sponsored walks don't get much better).Our grateful thanks go to Vic and Margaret for leading the walk, and to Linda Munn for the cream tea. We are also grateful to all of the participants for taking part, and to their friends and family for sponsorship money. At the time of writing, sponsorship monies have not been fully collected and counted; but this will make a useful addition to the funds.
Caroline Highwood
Chairman, Friends of Staplehurst Church
August 2008
Newsletter No. 43Dear Friends,
I thought it was about time that I introduced myself. I am Caroline Highwood, and was elected as the new Chairman of the Friends in May this year, to succeed Brian Humphries. We are all very grateful for the work that Brian did as Chairman, and I hope to prove a worthy successor.
For those of you who do not know me, I have lived in Staplehurst since 1984, and prior to that I lived in Marden, where I was born. So as you may guess, I am very fond of the area. Over the years, I have been involved in a number of village activities and organisations, including the WI, and the Parish Council; I am also a regular speaker at the Photographic Society. Currently, in addition to the Friends, I am a member of the Parochial Church Council, and Secretary to the McCabe Close Management Committee. Apart from all that, I work for the County Council in Maidstone.
But enough about me, the real purpose of this letter is to update you on various events we have planned for the coming weeks. I hope you will find things in here to take part in and enjoy.
The next major event will be the Festival of Flowers on the weekend of the 12, 13 and 14 September. The planning for this is beginning to come together, and I have high hopes that this will be a very enjoyable weekend. As well as the flowers themselves, there will be musical events, refreshments, and all will be rounded off by a special evensong, which people have already been nominating their favourite hymns for. The details of the programme are:
Friday 7.30pm - An Evening with the Choir (including refreshments)
Saturday 10.15am - Staplehurst Music Centre Entertains
Saturday 7.30pm - A Musical Bouquet (including finger buffet) - Tickets £5
Sunday 10.00am - the Archdeacon of Maidstone, the Venerable Philip Down
Sunday 6.30pm - Songs of Praise
Programmes for the whole event, and tickets for the performances will be available on the door, or from Marion Christie (892380) or Sylvia Lade (891091).
Later in the Autumn, on 18 October, we will be putting on an evening entertainment in the Church, called Shipwrecked with Music. Those of you who are regular Radio 4 listeners may recognise the concept. It will be a chance to hear some of our more prominent residents speak about their favourite music and what it means to them, and then to listen to the music with them. It will be held at 7.30pm in the Church, and tickets will be available on the door, or from Christine Ward (892522)
Finally (for now) we will once again be holding the Shepherds Market in the Church. This will be on 6 December, and will give an opportunity to stock up on Christmas goodies, and to find some interesting Christmas presents. We are hoping that we can once again prevail upon Father Christmas to join us for the Market, and refreshments will be served, so do please come and join us. If people (or organisations) are interested in having a stall, please contact Christine Ward (892522) for details. Otherwise, we hope to see you in the Church at 11.00am on 6 December.
Yours sincerely
Caroline Highwood, Chairman
April 2008
Newsletter No. 42Dear Friends,
Since our January Newsletter we have held a most enjoyable and successful “Brain Game” which raised the sum of £465.18. Our thanks and congratulations go to John Stewart for organising this event, which has become something of a fixture in our social calendar. Although John is hoping to move in the near future, please rest assured we plan to continue this event.
Our next fundraising event will be a Sponsored Ramble on Bank Holiday Monday, 26th May. Meet at the Parish Church at 11 am to walk at a leisurely pace to Frittenden where refreshments/lunch can be purchased at The Bell & Jorrocks. After Lunch return to Staplehurst by a different route. We hope to make this a family event to include children and dogs. Approximately 5/6 miles. Sponsorship Forms available at the back of the Church or phone Brian Humphries on 890344. If you are unable to walk with us on the day, please support by sponsoring someone else.
Planning for the Festival of Flowers, to be held on 12th, 13th and 14th September, is in full swing. A Coffee Morning to raise funds specifically for this event is to be held on 7th June between 10 am and noon in the Church. There will be stalls for cakes, bedding plants and “Bric-a-Brac”.
It is necessary from time to time to remind everyone who has signed a Tax Declaration in favour of The Friends that they must be paying sufficient tax to cover their subscription. If you are a higher rate taxpayer would you please contact our Treasurer who will supply you with a leaflet explaining how the worth of your donation can be increased.
May I remind you of the Bell Lane Recycling Centre for which, as adoptee, we receive £600 a year from Maidstone Borough Council. Our thanks go to those who organise this and clean up the site regularly. If you know of anyone who is unable to get to Bell Lane and has items for re-cycling, please contact John Stewart on 892982.
Our AGM is being held on the 21st May, and inserted with this Newsletter you will find an invitation and Agenda. We hope to see you there.
Yours sincerely
Brian Humphries, Chairman
January 2008
Newsletter - No. 41Dear Friends,
I extend a warm welcome to all new members who have joined us over the last twelve months, and a big thank you to our existing members for your continued support which is so vital for the upkeep of the fabric of our Church.
Whilst one of the objects of The Friends is to enable the wider community to contribute to this, in practice the majority of our support comes from within the Church congregation.
As I mentioned last year, following what was felt to be the surfeit of events in 2006, we planned to cut back in 2007 in the hope that those that we did arrange would be well supported.
The Summer Fete last year was organised by the PCC with proceeds going directly to help with the Church running costs. This will obviously have a direct impact on the total funds raised by The Friends in 2007/8.
The Brain Game in March was, as usual, a most enjoyable and very well organised evening which raised £353. Our thanks go to John Stewart and his helpers for the smooth running of this event.
September saw an ambitious production of a Scratch Messiah, which was much enjoyed both by the audience and all those who took part, and which raised £527. Our thanks for this go to Marion Christie who saw the project through from start to finish.
December saw the return of the Shepherds' Market to the Church after two years in the Parish Room. A reasonably successful morning saw us make a profit of £841.07.
During the year we have given £3,439 to the PCC to reimburse various items of maintenance and provided £517 towards a cover for the mechanism of the Church clock. We have also committed £1,432 + VAT to cover the cost of essential repairs to the stonework an the Tower and £6,883 to cover half the estimate for the repairs to the roof of the Church. The latter is to enable the PCC to apply to other organisations for matching funding. Lastly, we have purchased 10 tables for use in the Church at a cost of £228.53.
The PCC do have other projects in mind, most notably some electrical rewiring and upgrading of the lighting, so the need for your continued support will remain as great as ever.
Undoubtedly, one of the highlights of the coming year will be a Festival of Flowers which we will be staging in Church on 12th, 13th and 14th September. Other events provisionally planned include:-
- 26th May - Sponsored Walk
- 12th July - Stall at Summer Fete
- 23rd October - Desert Island Discs
- 6th December - Shepherds' Market
Finally, on behalf of your Committee, I would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped in any way with our fund raising efforts over the last twelve months. We are only too well aware that our efforts would count for nothing without so many willing helpers. Thank you.
Yours sincerely
Brian Humphries, Chairman
2008 Friends of All Saints Diaries
The Friends of All Saints 2008 Diary is now available. You can pick one up in Church for £1 where they can be found in a box on the wooden chest at the back of Church.
If you are unable to pick up one from the Church, please contact Marion Christie on (01580) 892380.
General Background Information
The Friends of All Saints Church is registered as a charity with very simple objectives: to maintain, repair, restore, preserve, improve, beautify and reconstruct, for the benefit of the public, the fabric of the Church, its monuments, fixtures, fittings, furniture, stained glass, ornaments and other chattels, and its churchyard.Since 1994, The Friends has undertaken a number of activities to provide funding towards several projects. These have included the gas-fired central heating, bells restoration, electrical winding of the clock, the provision of a vestry and draught excluding doors to the West Tower.
The Friends, administered by an elected committee, continues to spearhead fund raising and social events.
Membership of The Friends is open to anyone interested in the objects of the society and who has paid an annual member's subscription of at least £5. All Friends members - who pay Income Tax - should sign a declaration form to enable the tax to be reclaimed on their contribution, which increases the gift by some 28%.
Members receive informative Newsletters which give updates on the progress of projects and details of fund raising events to support and enjoy. A very wide variety of events is planned to ensure that all members find something of interest.
Becoming a member is very simple and your support will be much appreciated. Telephone the Membership Secretary, on (01580) 892 380 for further information or assistance.
Friends of All Saints Church - A fund raising body which helps finance projects of maintenance and improvement to All Saints Parish Church Staplehurst. It aims to involve members of the community through the promotion of a varied programme of events.
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Bell Lane Recycling Centre
Official Adoptee: Friends of All Saints Church
If any of the recycling bins become full, it would be of great help if you could telephone to report it on the following numbers :GLASS: (01977) 608020
PAPER, CARDBOARD, METAL TINS & ALUMINIUM: (01622) 602162
SHOES: (0500) 827198
CLOTHING: (0845) 4581999
If you are elderly or housebound, with no other means of getting your re-cycling materials to Bell Lane Car Park, please telephone Caroline Highwood on (01580) 892787 to request a free collection.
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