Church financeBy Judy Hart & Janet Whittow
You may remember that enclosed with the March Newsletter this year was a pamphlet explaining the dire state of the Church finances and an appeal for donations.
We are delighted to report that the response has been beyond our expectations and that over £6,000 has been donated, of which half was given by people who had not donated to the Church before. Also, over half the donations have been made by regular standing orders so will recur each year thus improving the ongoing income of the Church. Our gallant sky divers raised £3,000 from sponsorship with their Leap of Faith, the Church’s main annual fundraiser, the Fete, raised more than ever before and cream teas also did well. So we cannot thank enough those of you who contributed this year and all the fundraisers for all their hard work. The Church is for everyone in the village, and on behalf of the Church we are most grateful to you all.
So to what use are these funds being put? Firstly, there was a deficit in 2008, including the repairs to the bell, and this has now been covered. Secondly, essential maintenance to the building which has been long outstanding is underway. As you may know the cost of running the Church is over £36,000 annually of which the major component is the cost of clergy without whom there would be no baptisms, weddings or funerals let alone normal worship. So we cannot rest on our laurels!