A year in the life of St. Mary Magdalen, Sheet

The Friends of Sheet Church
Daphne Clark

The ‘Friends’ committee met four times during 2004. After ten years, Mike Barrow was able to shed the mantle of Treasurer and hand it to Colin Mattingly who has assumed that office. New banking arrangements were made and the majority of subscribers to the ‘Friends’ signed revised Bankers’ Order instructions to switch banks. The Treasurer is grateful for this! Ideas were sought to widen the number of ‘Friends’ and it is hoped that increased publicity will encourage the new residents on the Ramshill development and elsewhere to sign up.

There were on-going discussions and updates in connection with the safe access to the church via the steps. These have now been moved to create a larger space outside the main entrance. A handsome pair of gates now grace the top of the steps for which ‘Friends’ paid a balance of £1800 after an anonymous donation had been received towards the cost.

Another item under discussion was the funding for a toilet for those who attend the church. The ‘Friends’ have undertaken to meet half the cost (up to a maximum of £15,000) once decisions are made.

Some repair work was needed to the stonework of the windows inside the building; this was carried out shortly before Christmas and paid for by the ‘Friends’.

New projects for the future which were discussed were: -

1. The provision of carpeting for the aisle.
2. Improvement to the kneelers to make them easier to handle and raise them off the floor.
3. To explore the possibility of replacing the wooden floor inside the entrance with matching terracotta/black tiles.
4. Renewing the pew cushions, as these are looking rather worn out.

The PCC has been asked to consider these ideas before the ‘Friends’ decide how to help.

The main fund raising event for 2004 was the annual raffle which raised the sum of £1186 and there were four happy recipients when the tickets were drawn after the church Patronal Festival service held in the shade of the chestnut tree in July.

There will be another grand raffle in 2005, which will be drawn at the Village Fete on 18 June when Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton have promised to be present.

Our village church needs constant maintenance so why not become a ‘Friend’ and help to pay for this work. Application forms are available at the back of church or from committee members.

Members: Michael Barrow (Chair), Wendy Rogers (Secretary), Colin Mattingly (Treasurer), Sheila Bowler, Daphne Clark, Rob Dewing, Ruth Firth, Mike Huddlestone, Jenny Parkes, John Stabb, Rex Tucker.