About the ‘Friends’
The Church has been on this site since 1563 and it needs constant care and attention to ensure that it remains in a sound condition, to be enjoyed by future generations.
Members of the Friends come from diverse religious persuasions (including practicing atheists) but are united by the desire to ensure that this historical treasure survives for at least the next 450 years!
We invite you to join our growing band and help this worthy cause by clicking and downloading the membership application form you will find at the bottom of this page. The Friends help in a number of ways:-
o Through their membership fees and other generous donations.
o By the application of relevant skills:-• Gardening
• Carpentry
• Metal working
• Engineering
• Building etc.o By using their enthusiasm and organisational abilities to progress fund-raising activities.
o By the application of ‘people-power’; helping with those tasks that simply require effort.Activities that we have completed to date
Our first improvement action was the replacement of the entrance gate to the Church grounds. This was a fitting symbolic start for us and an improvement that was badly needed.
The old gate was well beyond its 'sell by' date!
The replacement of the gate is a great example of the way in which the Friends work. A member of the Friends drew up the plans. Membership fees and generous donations were used to fund a local carpenter who manufactured the gate and posts.
The new gate followed the style of the old one and re-used the old hardware
Members of the Friends worked together to remove the old gate and posts and install the new ones. Thus we avoided the substantial costs that we would have had to pay for a building contractor to carry out this work.
We have cleared ivy, brambles and other weeds from the base of the church walls on the south and east facing aspects to allow decaying brickwork to be replaced. When this job is finished the Friends will back fill the area with a plant proof membrane with a gravel soak-away. This will help to alleviate some of the damp problems that have been affecting the base of the church walls.
We have designed, built and installed a ladder that provides access to the belfry from the clock chamber. Previously access had been by means of an old pair of step ladders and it was felt that a fixed ladder would be safer and more secure.
The new ladder into the belfry
Very recently we have cleaned the wooden fence that runs alongside the road and treated it with a preservative material.
Activities currently being planned
The notice boards at the front of the Church grounds and by the Church door need to be replaced and quotes for the manufacture of these items are being obtained.
The metal fencing that along the north side of the Church grounds is in a very poor state and we are currently looking into the cost of replacement panels and the possibility of refurbishing the some of the old panels.
Activities for future actions
Cracked and flaking plaster on some of the interior walls requires replacement with a damp resisting finish.
The joint between the roof and the southern wall of the Church requires re-pointing.
The clock tower and belfry need cleaning.
The metal fittings, associated with the mounting of the bells, need anti-corrosion treatment. Some of these fittings are believed to have come from the original church, before it was moved to its current position, and thus are probably about 600 years old!
To download our membership application form, click on the box below. You will need Adobe Actobat reader on your computer, which is free from www.adobe.com
