Lovely to see our plaques when out and about in Suffolk. Here at Trinity Methodist church, Felixstowe and …..
at St Mary’s, Boxford.
Thank you for displaying them.
Every Suffolk church, chapel or meeting house that has had a grant from us in the past ten years should have received one. (It’s all part of 50 years of Suffolk Historic Churches Trust celebrations.)
It’s an ongoing project and new grant receivers will receive a plaque too.
More photos please!
The money raised by the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust from fundraising and legacies is awarded to churches at four meetings a year and at the January Grants Meeting over £33,000 was agreed to be shared between eight Suffolk churches, six in West Suffolk and two in East Suffolk.
The churches awarded grants in January were to All Saints, Gazeley, St John the Baptist, Stoke by Clare, SS Peter & Paul, Lavenham, St Mary, Brome, St Mary, Walpole, St Mary, Kersey, St Mary, Great Bradley and St George, Stowlangtoft.
“At its January meeting the Grants Committee made awards totalling £33,250,:” explained John Devaux, SHCT Grants Committee Chairman. “These churches have to find over £300,000 in order to undertake various projects. To date approximately half this sum has been raised. Building costs have risen rapidly and some work is urgent. An example is the re-tiling of the chancel roof of All Saints, Gazeley. At present water is seeping in and damaging a precious ceiling embellished with over one hundred medieval carvings. The collection has been described as “unique and of national importance”.
At All Saints, Gazeley, even after the SHCT grant is taken into account, the church has to find a further £58,450 and an appeal has been launched. The other churches also have to raise more money to complete the work that is needed. There are three more Grants Meetings scheduled through the year and any church, chapel or meeting house, of any denomination can apply. Details are HERE
RECORD MONEY RAISED!
The annual charity day that raises money for grants for the repair and upkeep of church buildings, has announced a record-breaking amount was raised in Suffolk in September 2023, on what was probably the hottest day of the year.
Organised by Suffolk Historic Churches Trust (SHCT) in their 50th anniversary year, Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride and Pedal & Drive jointly raised £214,470.
More churches than last year had walkers and cyclists taking part, and raised more money than before. Hundreds of churches, chapels and meeting houses were open to welcome participants, many of whom are not church- worshippers but who love the ancient buildings that have been part of their community for generations.
“What a day, and what a result! Blistering sunshine and a fantastic turnout in support of our beautiful churches and heritage. Well done and thank you to all our helpers in the churches who kept us cyclists and walkers on the go. Thank you too to all our sponsors who helped us achieve such a generous total,” said Simon Ronan , SHCT Ride and Stride Chairman.
Organised by Suffolk Historic Churches Trust (SHCT), Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride, and Pedal & Drive car rally, each year sees several thousand cyclists and walkers of all ages, (and drivers of vintage and classic cars) taking part in the fundraising event that was held in 2023 on Saturday 9 September. CLICK HERE
The ride began in Suffolk in 1982 but has now spread across England, appeals to families, local history lovers, keen cyclists and walkers, church supporters and those who just enjoy an annual trip around the villages and towns of Suffolk. Cyclists and walkers get sponsors or donations for their journey around some of Suffolk’s churches, choosing their own route, long or short. The money they raise help save this wonderful part of our history, with half going to the Trust to give out as grants for church buildings, and half to the participants chosen church. The car rally is held on the same day.
The next Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride Day is on Saturday 14th September 2024 when the Suffolk Churches vintage and classic car rally Pedal & Drive is also held, with the cars travelling a provided route, around a selection of churches, ending at Lavenham. CLICK HERE
‘Guides to Suffolk Churches Online’ launched on the 50th anniversary of the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust Foundation Day (21st December 1972)
The project to assemble all Suffolk church guidebooks online was the brainchild of the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust (SHCT) who are celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2023. Suffolk, with Norfolk, has the greatest concentration of mediaeval churches in Europe -indeed the world- and over the years vicars, scholars and enthusiasts have documented the individual stories of these churches. Now for the first time those histories have been painstakingly collected, scanned and uploaded as a new “Guides to Suffolk Churches Online”, hosted by the Trust.
“The churches think it is a fantastic opportunity, that it will bring people into their churches to look around,” said Lynda Aldred, Volunteer Coordinator for the project, and chairman of The Arts Society South East Suffolk. “We’ve got guides which were written by someone who has since died and their families have been contacted and, without question, they say it is wonderful that their memory lies on. Some of the guides are very professional but my favourite guides are the older ones with hand-drawn covers , little staple rust marks, or those that have been typed on a type-writer with a dodgy letter!”
There are already hundreds of Suffolk churches on the website and more will be added, including any denomination of church, chapel or meeting house that has a guide.
“We were conscious that many of these guides have gone out of print and that if we didn’t collect them now an important part of Suffolk ‘s social and architectural history would be lost forever,” explained Geoffrey Probert, Chairman of Suffolk Historic Churches Trust. “We have a great many people to thank- the Church Wardens of the churches up and down Suffolk who gave us their guides, John Vigar who generously shared with us the Suffolk portion of his great collection of guides, Canon Roy Tricker, who has himself written dozens of these guides, allowed us to delve into his boxes, and Simon Knott, cyclist, photographer and raconteur, who let us link to his comprehensive and learned Suffolk churches website.”
Geoffrey stressed that the huge year-long project could not have been achieved without some expert help and inspiration, notably Clive Major of Code.Trix who built the site.
“Last but very much not least, I should to thank Lynda Aldred, who gave so generously of her ingenuity and time in making it all happen” Geoffrey added.
The Guides are available, without charge, on this website: https://shct.org.uk/guides-to-suffolk-churches
The Friends of SHCT Annual Meeting at Haughley Park on Monday 6th November 2023
The meeting was attended by around fifty Friends of SHCT and chairman Geoffrey Probert began by giving a short presentation on how we had been celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Trust. Then there were brief reports on finances, Ride and Stride day and Trust publicity.
The guest speaker was Right Rev Graeme Knowles CVO who was there to talk about the work of the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) in Suffolk, which he chairs. He explained that he came to the county after retiring, previously being the Dean at St Paul’s Cathedral (but resigned over disagreements regarding the ‘occupy’ camp that set up there) and Chief Executive of the charity ‘The Sons and Friends of the Clergy’.
He told us that DAC’s were set up as a result of campaigns for Church of England churches to be removed from the responsibility of their local worshippers and given to the Government. This was defeated in the House of Lords although cathedrals were left in the resulting legislation, The Ancient Monuments Protection Act 1885. That ruling stated that “every church should be the centre of worship and mission’.
Churches apply to the DAC when they wish to carry out work on the building and they advise on what is acceptable. The most common request currently is for permission to create small kitchens and toilet facilities.
“Facilities like a small kitchen can bring life to a parish and give it a future, as well as a past,” Rt Rev Graeme said.
He also laughingly said that they are often considered like a pantomime ‘baddie’, whom everyone boos, but when they make a site visit they can often give a useful outsiders view of the church. They can show how it appears to non-worshippers, as we all become accustomed to what we see regularly and may not spot something obvious. They can also suggest ways to learn from other successful projects.
The DAC ideally advises churches at an early stage on what may be acceptable (“before the builders move in” ) but the final decision on issuing a ‘faculty’ (permission to proceed) is taken by the Chancellor of the Diocese.
Rt Rev Graeme was very complimentary about the work of the SHCT and the grants they award, saying that our churches are in the best state of repair than they have been for centuries due to work done in the 20thcentury, and how churches now are generally open to visitors too.
He concluded by saying that although our grants may be a small proportion of the amount churches need to raise, they can be a seed for other grants and also give encouragement for a local church fundraising group to take the next step on their journey.
The evening concluded with supper and conversation.
More details of how to become a “Friend” of Suffolk Historic Churches Trust can be found HERE
As the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust continue their 50th anniversary year, twelve churches – seven in West Suffolk, five in East Suffolk – will receive grants following the quarterly meeting of the Trust’s Grants Committee. The grants awarded this time total £37,660 and the money is raised from sponsorship money from Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride, the Pedal and Drive car rally, and some legacies.
The October grants went to parish churches in Kedington, Brandeston, Hitcham, Melton, Herringswell, Gt Bricett, Walton, Lawshall, Raydon, Walsham-le-Willows, Debenham and St Margaret’s, Ipswich, and ranged from £660 to £6000. (Churches of any denomination and age can apply).
The work was for various schemes including replacing 1980’s lighting in Melton church, and re-tiling the nave roof and repairs to the tower at Herringswell . In Gt Bricett the money is needed to remove internal concrete render and re-render in lime mortar, whilst at Lawshall they have to stabilise a beam in the tower that has sheared at one end, meaning the church will remain closed until this is rectified.
“At its October meeting the Grants Committee of Suffolk Historic Churches Trust made awards to twelve Suffolk churches including St Mary’s, Walsham-le-Willows in the north, St Mary’s, Raydon in the south, St Mary’s, Walton in the east and St Ethelbert’s, Herringswell in the west,” explained Grants Committee Chairman, John Devaux. “The total cost of the work to the twelve churches is approximately £464,000 with one church having to find £130,000. At the beginning of October, the combined shortfall in funding came to approximately £215,000. It is hoped that some of the Trust awards will strengthen applications made by churches to additional fund holders, some of whom require that applicants will already have raised up to fifty per cent of the total sum required.”
Suffolk Historic Churches Trust give grants towards the cost of repairs and improvements to churches, chapels and meeting houses, four times year.
For details of how to apply for a grant Click Here
Fifty-two churches across Suffolk are installing tributes to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, following grants totalling £170,000 awarded by Suffolk Historic Churches Trust (SHCT).
Last year the Trustees of the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust decided to allocate £70,000 to a Jubilee Fund for projects the Trust saw as a fitting tribute to the Queen’s remarkable 70 year reign. To spread the money grant would only be awarded to projects that would not exceed £5,000, with the requested grant expected to cover the bulk if not the entire costs of the project. The fund was open to all churches, chapels and meeting houses. When 56 applications were received, totalling over £180,000, thanks to two legacies, the Trustees felt able to award £170,000 to 52 churches right across Suffolk.
The applications were many and varied, for example, in Mendlesham a noticeboard has been erected outside the church, in Hitcham carved wooden pew ends have been created, in Elmswell a seat is now outside the church, the organ at Acton is repaired and in Gt Ashfield new wooden chairs for the clergy have been installed.
Chairman of the SHCT Grants Committee John Devaux commented ‘”The Trust is thrilled that Jubilee projects for which it awarded grants are now coming to fruition. Her Late Majesty was Patron of the National Churches Trust and I’m sure she would have been delighted to see so many projects being realised in her name in Suffolk. We very much look forward to visiting some of the churches to admire what has been achieved.’
In Elmswell the new seat is there for all to use.
“The 6’ bench was installed outside the church’s late 15th century tower looking out towards the neighbouring village of Woolpit and the old churchyard. A commemorative plaque was included with it and it has been secured with tamper-proof installation bolts! It is both a fitting tribute to her late Majesty and an ornament to the overall church landscape. We are extremely grateful to the SHCT for their generous funding of this project which will be enjoyed by many people in Elmswell” said Mike Schofield, Church Treasurer for St John’s Church, Elmswell.
Mendlesham are pleased with their noticeboard, standing proudly outside St Mary’s church.
“Our new noticeboard was blessed after Parish Mass by my husband, Father Philip Gray. It was fully paid for by a generous grant from the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Fund of Suffolk Historic Churches Trust and was installed by the Church Noticeboard Company. We feel it is a fitting tribute in memory of the late Queen and a great addition to the churchyard,” said Ann Gray.
Nicola Currie, Secretary of the Friends of Hitcham Church, explained the idea behind their new pew ends.
“It was decided to have not one but two oak panels carved, one to record our Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the other the parish’s care of the church building at Hitcham, over the same period. These would be fitted to the pew ends at the back of the Nave as these are the first ones seen by visitors to the church. We were keen to keep it simple to fit with our church so we opted for the Queen’s crown and words ‘70 years Dedication and Service’ and ‘70 years Repair and Restoration’ under a carving of Hitcham church cradled in cupped hands.
“Expert Suffolk wood carver and member of the Master Carvers’ Association, Robert Lewis, took such care over our project,” she continued. “We particularly love the way the grain of the oak has made the hands on the parish panel look as though they belong to someone who has been very hard working …as the work is never ending when caring for a medieval building. It seemed fitting to include the care of our church as the whole project was paid for by the SHCT, who have helped us so much in the past.’
The new chairs at Great Ashfield are part of a bigger project.
“As part of our Chancel Reordering Project at All Saints Church, Great Ashfield, the pews were removed to give us more space for activities both liturgical and social which was not offered by the seated interior. The project also involved some replastering, new lighting, and radiators as well as decorating. We were so delighted that our application for a Jubilee Grant was accepted, enabling us to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with the purchase of two Clergy Chairs and matching side tables. A wonderful way for our Church and Village to mark this very special occasion,” said a delighted Stephen Miles.
Christopher Moss from All Saints, Acton:
“With the help of a grant of £3907 we were able to undertake a full clean and refurbishment of our single manual Walker Organ which was obtained by Bishop and Son, Ipswich from Whitton Church in 1982 and installed in our church in 1983. The last major rebuild of the organ had been undertaken in 1870.” he explained.
The results of the successful applications are now beginning to be seen across the county while others are in progress.
Another project will be dedicated at St Mary’s Church, in Raydon in November.
“Our church here in Raydon has used an SHCT Jubilee Grant to commission a painting of the Royal Arms of King Charles III to hang on the blank west wall of St Mary’s. We believe it will be the first one in Suffolk. We had hoped to have Queen Elizabeth Arms but her death meant we had to change to one of the King. It will be unveiled on 26th November at morning service, ” said Simon Tennent, Vice- President of SHCT and member of Raydon church.
SHCT continue to award grants towards church building projects, four times a year. Details are on this website https://shct.org.uk/grants/
Churches awarded Jubilee Grants:
St Mary Magdalene, Debenham – weather vane
St Mary’s, Kersey- 3 new windows, white with a red, white and blue highlight in the centre
St Andrews Brockely – wheelchair ramp
St Michaels Beccles – lectern
St Marys Kentford – handrail
St Peter and St Paul, Fressingfield – door curtain and altar cloth
St Peter’s Acton – refurbish organ
All Saints, Hitcham – bench end panels
St Mary’s Raydon – Royal Coat of Arms
St Johns Denham – porch commemorative window
All Saints, Hollesley – catering unit
St John, Elmswell – achurchyard bench
St Mary’s Withersfield – clock restoration
St Edmund, Assington – mobile servery unit
St Nicholas, Thelnetham – 25 kneeler kits
St Peters Thurston – notice boards
All Saints, Sproughton – organ modification
St Mary’s Hinderclay – sound system
St Marys Mendelsham- noticeboard by the gate
Bradfield St George – restore sundial
St Marys Pakenham – tea urn
St Andrew Cotton – replace QEll Coronation Light
St Peter Hepworth – automatic clock winder
St Andrew, GT Finborogh – glazed porch doors
Holy Trinity, Long Melford – eight flower stands
St Marys Nettlestead – churchyard bench
St Bartholomew’s, Ingham – churchyard wall
St Peter, Spexhall – restore creed boards
St Mary’s Walsham le Willows – replace flags and curtain
St Marys Dennington – churchyard gates
St Gregory’s Barnham – conservation of hatchment
All Saints, Gt Ashfield – Clergy chairs
St Mary at the Elms Ipswich – remote bell chimer
All Saints, Worlington – churchyard gates
All Saints, Chelsworth – restore the font
St Mary’s, Martlesham – Jubilee garden
All Saints, Stanton -altar
All Saints, Stuston – bird doors in porch
St Mary’s, Worlingworth – organ bellows
SS Mary’s and Botolph, Whitton– window roundel
St Mary’s, Clopton- altar repositioning
St Mary’s, Bures – live stream videoing
St Nicholas, Hintlesham – restore two hatchments
All saints, Hartest – display boards
Congratulations to Jessie Hopkins age 14 from Haverhill who has won this year’s Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride photography competition, and a £75 book token.
She took the winning set of three photos while walking from Haverhill to Kedington, with her grandmother, as part of the annual Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride fundraising day. They were raising money for Suffolk Historic Churches Trust and the Old Independent Church in Haverhill.
“I enjoyed the walk with my nan to raise money, and taking pictures of the churches we visited. It was a lovely day but very warm!” said Jessie. “I am thrilled to win the set of photos prize.”
Over 500 churches were open to cyclists and walkers for the event and, to win the photography competition, the entrant had to submit a set of three photographs, taken on Ride and Stride Day 2023, Saturday 9thSeptember, comprising a feature in church or chapel, a photo of themselves taking part, plus their favourite photo of the day.
Jessie entered photos of the beautiful organ in the Old Independent United Reformed Church, in Haverhill, the sunlight coming through window at Kedington Church (her favourite photo), and one of her and her grandmother on their walk.
There is one further prize of £25 book token for an individual photo from a set of three, and that was won by Jean Macpherson from Felixstowe with her photo of the stained glass window at St Peter and St Paul church, in Old Felixstowe.
“It is St Felix and King Siebert window, which is appropriate for Suffolk churches as King Siegbert sent a message to the Duke of Burgundy to send someone to teach the Suffolk Saxons about Christianity and Felix was sent. Now we have the churches and Christianity widespread in Suffolk,” she explained. “I took part to raise money for the Trust and Old Felixstowe Parish (St Peter and St Paul, St Andrews and St Nicholas at the Ferry).”
To see a selection of the photographs entered into the competition CLICK HERE
The Suffolk Historic Churches Trust, gives grants for church buildings. Next year, Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride will be held on Saturday 14th September.
ON Sunday 17th September 2023, the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust celebrated their 50th anniversary with a special service at St Edmundsbury Cathedral. Around 700 people attended including representatives from over 300 churches, church historians, church architects and supporters.
Here are some of the images from the event. The photographer was Chad Cox.
A Service of Thanksgiving for 50 years of Suffolk Historic Churches Trust
St Edmundsbury Cathedral, held on Sunday 17h September.
With choirs, music, readings, prayers and a message from Griff Rhys-Jones, the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust (SHCT) celebrated, on Sunday, fifty years of supporting historic church buildings of all denominations, in Suffolk. Over the years they have awarded thousands of pounds of grants, for church restoration and improvements, that was raised through legacies and sponsored events -principally the annual Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride.
Invited to the special cathedral service, by the Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk, Clare, Countess of Euston, the Patron of the Trust, were two representatives from every historic Suffolk church, chapel and meeting house. 450 people representing 300 churches came – 270 Church of England parishes along with other denominations, including representatives of important historic buildings like Clare Priory, the Unitarian Meeting House in Ipswich and St Benets, Beccles. The Lord Lieutenant was there as were the High Sheriff of Suffolk, Mark Pendlington , our Resident Judge HHJ Martyn Levett, and church architects, historians and officers of the Trust. In total 700 people from every corner of Suffolk filled the cathedral.
Church representatives were asked to wear, with pride, a badge stating their church and date of foundation and a sea of blue and white badges told the story of Suffolk’s unique and glorious legacy of mediaeval churches
The service began with a Procession led by cyclists responsible for most of the £10m (in today’s money) raised and distributed by the SHCT over the last fifty years, and included church historians, church architects, SHCT Trustees, Ride and Stride organisers, the cathedral choir, children from Sexton’s Manor School, and Ecumenical and Clergy representatives.
The service was opened by a trumpet fanfare and a welcome from the Dean and included a sermon by the Rt Revd Martin Seeley, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, prayers by priests of three denominations and a joint blessing by Bishop Martin and Bishop Peter, the Roman Catholic Bishop of East Anglia. There was a reading taken from Suffolk’s legendary writer Ronald Blythe’s ‘Next to Nature’ and a conversation between Trustees Jamie Norman and Rachel Sloane on the next fifty years. Music was orchestrated by the cathedral Director of Music, Timothy Parsons with the cathedral choir leading the singing and children from Sexton’s Manor School in Bury St Edmunds, conducted by music teacher, Emma Jones, performing a contemporary hymn written especially for the 50th anniversary of Suffolk Historic Churches Trust by Felixstowe musician, Andy Rayner.
Geoffrey Probert, Chairman of Suffolk Historic Churches Trust said “ I am so grateful to the Cathedral for hosting the Service and would like to thank Bishop Martin for his Sermon, Griff Rhys Jones for allowing us to show his film ‘my church’ and all those who made it all happen . Above all I would like to thank the churchwardens and treasurers who came in numbers from all over Suffolk to celebrate the Trust’s 50th but who are the real heroes of the story in their loving care year in year out for our wonderful church buildings”.
(A photo gallery of the event will be added shortly)
