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Just ten years ago The Friends of St Peter’s was inaugurated with the objective of, in brief, raising funds for the preservation, repair and maintenance of the fabric and furnishings of St Peter’s Church and churchyard. It was the intention of those drawing up the Constitution that these objectives would be supported by members of the congregation and also anyone else interested in the building as an historic medieval Grade I listed building.
The enthusiasm that the launch met was impressive. St Peter’s Centre had only recently been bought and refurbished yet the Friends’accounts for the year ending December 1997 show total receipts of over £23K, nearly £10K in subscriptions. Life membership was offered at that time at £250. By the end of last year £38900 had been raised through subs with a further £10800 from tax refunds. A substantial sum comes in annually from regular subscriptions, donations and legacies. Now, at the turn of the year, we expect to go over the £100K mark in the amount we have contributed to the well being of our treasured church building since 1996! As our information leaflet says: All buildings deteriorate from the day the front door goes on…and the door of St Peter’s went on when Leonardo was still a youngster. We follow the example of our predecessors in our wish to preserve the building and not to let it fall into decay.
Whilst the objectives were clear, fund raising had still to be established. The aim was to incorporate interesting and sociable fund-raising projects without an undue load on the committee. A framework of regular events was established: a lecture (the first was one by David Banks on his leg of the Round the World Yacht Race), Bi-annual Art Festivals in the church, Gardens Open, The Summer Pig Roast, a winter social evening, and an AGM with dinner. From time to time other ideas have come up and proved fun as well as profitable – an auction, outings, the visits of the Americans, The Flower Festival and more recently the 1200th Anniversary celebrations.
What projects have we supported, through the PCC or directly? We contributed £20K to the major roof repairs, the Organ’s refurbishment £10K, the lobby £12.5K, installation of window grilles nearly £30K over the last 5 years, the repair and regilding of the weathervane, the CCTV system, the sound system, a new altar frontal, repairs to wall memorials and also the installation of the Millennium (Prior Aldwyn) Memorial, stone work (the gates, gate post and main front steps), and we have pledged up to £5K towards the reconfiguration of the Choir vestry.
Through out these years the Friends have enabled projects to go ahead which might not have been as well crafted or indeed accomplished at all. There are more calls on the funds every year. The Friends themselves have asked about the possibility of once again flood lighting the church as it is a land mark dear to all who are familiar with the sight of its brilliant cockerel swinging freely on the tower as they draw near to Winchcombe.
It has been fun most of the time raising the funds and the amount varies wildly from one year to the next. Funds can easily be spent. As custodians we must always have a substantial reserve for emergencies (like the grilles) and lean years. Please join us and/or support our events. Or perhaps you would like to remember us in your Will….
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