Friends' Page

The Friends Scheme was launched on Sunday 24th October 2010.  The following letter from the Rector has been distributed round the parish and is copied here for all to read.

   St. Wilfrid’s Church, Grappenhall 

Friends of St. Wilfrid’s Church 

Visitors to Grappenhall are often taken by surprise on discovering a lovely village with cobblestone pavings, two public houses, two schools, St. Wilfrid’s Church and many varied privately owned cottages and houses.  There is a timeless quality to the village of which many are unaware, the main road taking traffic past with scarcely a thought.  The Bridgewater Canal, used by many pleasure craft, forms a boundary and yet provides views which suggest that further exploration would be worthwhile. 

St. Wilfrid’s Church is a wonderful focal point and historically very important, a church having been on the site since at least the 12^th Century.  The building has changed a great deal over the years.  For 400 years, the original Norman church stood with the small Boydell Chapel adjoining it.  Changes were made in two phases in the 16^th Century.  Later there were extensions to the church in 1850 and 1851, with restoration work undertaken in 1873 and 1874.  There are many interesting features inside the church, including the stained glass windows, the Saxon font, the 14^th Century stoup, 12^th Century parish chest, the oak pulpit, carved oak reredos depicting the Last Supper, the Boydell Effigy (c1277) and the painted Royal Coat of Arms of Queen Anne. 

Over recent years, the cost of maintaining the church has increased considerably and it is difficult to contemplate how the burden can be borne in future by the church congregation alone.  Major repairs have included refurbishing the Large Room at a cost of £180,000 to provide an up-to-date Parish Centre for use as a social meeting place, as a base for church organisations to meet and a place where the administration of the parish can be carried out effectively.  Repairs to the church roof and tower have been completed at a cost of £70,000 and £62,000 respectively.  It is clear to see these costs are significant and as a result the time has come to approach the wider community for help by launching a ‘Friends’ scheme. 

Aims of the Friends:

• To ensure that St. Wilfrid’s is maintained as a warm and welcoming place of worship.
• To sustain links with the local community and re-establish contact with the people whose circumstances have caused them to live away from Grappenhall.
• To assist in the funding of major repairs or restoration work and provide any additional facilities required by the changing needs of the 21^st Century. 

As a friend you will:

• Receive invitations to specific social events held for the Friends during the year, with special focus on Founders Day.
• Receive details of concerts organised in Church throughout the year.
• Receive two newsletters each year summarising activities in the parish
• Have the sense of involvement in the achievements facilitated by the activities of the Friends. 

Future Projects: 

Renewal of the church bells and bellframe is contemplated, together with repairs to the paths around the church and an overhaul of the church organ. 

Please join the Friends of St Wilfrid’s Church and help to ensure the continuing presence of a wonderful place of worship for future generations. 

Yours sincerely 

Malcolm B Kelly

Rector

 

We will soon be providing a PayPal facility for those who wish to make on-line payments.  Meanwhile if you would would like further details of subscription rates or prefer to download an application form to complete and post, please click here.

if you would prefer to submit an on-line applcation form please click here.

 

View of St Wilfrid's from the South East