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The Friends of St Martin’s
& St. Peter’s
The ‘Friends of St. Martin’s and St. Peter’s’ was launched in September 2001. Its’ purpose is to raise funds for the buildings of both churches and these funds are channelled through to the Trust which was formed at the same time and became a Registered Charity in 2002.”
The launch in 2001 followed the replacement of the St Martin’s Nave pew floor that year and funds were very low. Some two years earlier, knowing that this floor needed urgent work, several parishioners had felt that a Friends Group dedicated to the repairs and maintenance of the Church was desperately needed. To this end a group of PCC members led by Roger King (a Churchwarden), and Jem Barnecutt (a Lawyer) were asked to research and to create the New Friends Group
The launch in 2001 was the climax of a lot of hard work and becoming a charity some three months later was the icing on the cake as donations could now be gift-aided
Since Launch, several events have taken place including a Special Pet Service and Fête at St. Peter’s, three consecutive Medieval Fairs in the Inner Bailey of Ongar Castle, two Medieval Banquets, a Ceilidh, an Auction of Promises and recently the Magic lantern Show.
Monies raised helped with the refurbishment of St. Martin’s organ, the heating modifications in St. Martins, help with the new Notice boards at St. Peter’s, Manor Square, and the Church Rooms.
The re-painting of the Nave Dormers and Spire at St. Martin’s are next to have help.
The Friends have six Trustees who look after the monies raised and six members of the Friends Committee whose responsibility is to research money-making events and then organise them.
Members come from all walks of life, not only from the parishioners. Membership is easy; all that is necessary is to complete an application form available on the table at the back of St. Martin's Church.
The cost is only £5 per adult per annum. So if you are not a member please join us. Substantial funds have been raised so far but we can always spend money on our old buildings and we always need help. |
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Friends Event
On Saturday 28th November the FRIENDS OF ST. MARTIN’S & ST. PETER’S presented a nostalgic evening of magic lantern slides brought to us by the expertise of Jan and Richard Rigby. Their presentation gave us a fascinating insight into the innovative entertainment of bygone days. Over sixty people gathered in The Church Rooms, Castle Street and were entertained with stories from comedy to horror and melodrama through the medium of hand-painted glass slides together with most interesting historic information about magic lanterns. There had been an invitation to dress up in Victorian or Edwardian dress and well over twenty people came suitably attired and there was a prize for the winner who came dressed as Dracula! Refreshments were served and a raffle held and a grand total of £430 was raised.
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The Friends
