Friends of All Saints Staplehurst

Registered Charity No. 1037964

Friends of All Saints 2024 AGM

30th Anniversary Celebrations

Sunday the 19th May from 3:00 pm

WHO DOESN’T LIKE A PARTY!

This year is our 30th Annual General Meeting of The Friends and we are planning a party. If you think AGMs are boring, then think again!! We promise you this is an AGM with a difference. We offer Pimm’s, cake, candles and balloons.

Everyone is invited to join us at All Saints Church on Sunday, May 19th starting at 3:00 pm. Hear about the projects we have supported in those thirty years; help blow out the candles and raise a glass to our next 30 years. A short AGM will follow the festivities.

The Friends of All Saints is an independent Charity whose objectives are to maintain, repair, restore, preserve, improve, beautify and reconstruct the fabric of All Saints, Church Staplehurst for the benefit of the community. So, if you are interested in the Church building and its use for the Community, this is for you.

It may be that you were not aware of us or have just not become a member yet. Whichever, and whatever, do come along, say hello and share our enthusiasm for the Church building.

A formal notice and reports will be circulated to all members as usual 14 days before.

Val Wallis

Chair, Friends of All Saints Staplehurst

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. Becoming a member is very simple and your support will be much appreciated – Telephone Andrew Brady the Membership Secretary, on (01580) 891840 or email The Friends for further information.

Plans are in hand with the bell ringers to mark the occasion with a Quarter Peal and other open ringing. The first major project the Friends supported and the driving force behind the formation of the Friends by the Rector at the time, the Rev. Brian Barnes and others, centred around the re-hanging project when the bells were augmented from 8 to 10 with 2 new bells cast, so very poignant.

Information on the bells can be found at bells.allsaintsstaplehurst.co.uk/the-bells/

Since 1994, The Friends has undertaken a number of activities to provide funding for 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 kitchen with accessible toilet, repairs to the south-facing roof, and a significant contribution to the project funding for the lighting scheme.

On top of project funding, we also contribute towards regular maintenance and this includes tuning the historical organ and day-to-day repairs. We recently paid for new bell tower louvres to the South and West faces and a significant contribution to repairing stained glass window damage.

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. Membership details, including an online contact form, can be found below, or download our Membership Form here and send it to Membership Secretary, Andrew Brady.

Recent Event

It was great to see so many at the Brain Game in March, a very good start to our fundraising events being able to take place. The evening raised £334.

On June 18th, commencing at 7:30 pm, there will be a musical evening at the Church led by Stevie Higgins. More details will be in the June Parish Magazine but put the date in your diaries now.

Val Wallis

Chair Friends of All Saints’ Staplehurst

Andrew Brady

Friends Membership Secretary (Committee Member)
Email: The Friends

Making a Donation

Anyone can make a donation to The Friends for the maintenance of the church either directly to a member of the committee, via Give a Little or JustGiving.

Donate via Give a Little

You can give via our Give a Little Donation page.

Click the QR Code below or Scan it with your mobile and follow the instructions to donate via a credit or debit card.

Donate via JustGiving

You can donate via our JustGiving Donation page or use the Donate Button below.

Membership

The Friends, administered by an elected committee, continues to spearhead fundraising 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 fundraising events to support and enjoy. A very wide variety of events are planned to ensure that all members find something of interest.

Becoming a member is very simple and your support will be much appreciated. Telephone Andrew Brady the Membership Secretary, on (01580) 891840 or email The Friends for further information.

Friends of All Saints Church – A fundraising body that 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 program of events.

If you would like to join the Friends please download the Membership Form by clicking the image below and post or email it to the Membership Secretary (contact details are on the form):

Friends Merchandise

We have a small range of merchandise to help us raise funds. Please check out our Merchandise page here.

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