FUNDRAISING for the present needs and the future survival of our Parish Church.

Stoke St. Mary Church Fundraising

Can you imagine an English Country Village without its Parish Church?

Can you imagine Stoke St. Mary without St. Mary's Church?

The fabric at St Mary's requires regular maintenance and - from time to time - substantial repairs. There is a need to provide essential facilities. The current repair programme is beyond the present resources of the parish church. Our cash flow is running at a deficit  - that is to say that outgoings for basic maintenance and church expenses are greater than income received through

(a) Planned Giving; (b) Donations; (c) Annual Fundraisers; (d) Legacies.

We believe that you are proud of your church and while many of you may not darken the church doors, on a regular basis, we believe that you expect the church to be there, as a focus of our village for use when you want it. In recent months work has started on the interior decoration of the church and this work will have been much admired by those who joined in the Christmas Services.

What we ask of the residents of the civil parishes of Stoke St. Mary and Thurlbear, is support to St. Mary's. Can you - the villagers of Stoke St. Mary and Thurlbear - make a  financial commitment that will provide not only for better facilities and repairs immediately needed but also guarantee the financial survival of the Parish Church of Stoke St. Mary.

Problems and essential projects include: 

• The interior and exterior of the church needs regular maintenance.
• There are additional facilities needed.
• The churchyard needs regular maintenance.

Aim:

• To raise increased Planned Giving to meet the shortfall in our cash flow and to prepare for retained fabric reserves.  

The provision of Stained Glass Windows e.g. The original Patrick Reyntians Millennium Window, and other Reyntian's Windows have been subscribed for by donation from members of the church and also from donations from other members of our civil parish. We are extremely grateful for the support that these special projects have received. However these beautiful embellishments are not funded from the General Accounts of the church referred to in the opening paragraph above. 

Everyone in the civil parish of Stoke St. Mary and Thurlbear is being invited to feel part of a dedication of ensuring that St.Mary’s is protected from further deterioration.

Please help by:-

(a)   Making a regular donation to St. Mary’s in the form of cash or a Standing Order. This donation can be made on a monthly, quarterly, half yearly or annual basis.

(b)   Joining a Planned Giving scheme using Envelopes. One year’s supply of 52 envelopes can be provided for you to put aside a sum on a weekly basis. The envelopes can be collected at monthly (or longer) intervals whatever is convenient.

(c)   Including in your Last Will & Testament, a legacy to St. Mary’s Church.

(d)   Supporting in any way possible the events that form the activities of the annual fund-raising calendar of St. Mary’s church as updated in the Parish Magazine.

We will provide all printed forms necessary to help you in your support for the church. These include Standing Order forms and Gift Aid forms, so that if you are a basic rate taxpayer we will be able to claim an additional sum from the taxman.

Thank you for your support.