Broad Street Friends of Wrington Churchyard
                          Registered Charity No.1093436   
    


The Benedictine monks of Glastonbury built Wrington's magnificent church in the 14th & 15th centuries.
The grave of Hannah More and her sisters in the south-east corner of All Saints' churchyard is sought out by many visitors every year.
[Cf. Lillian Millard's History of Hannah More]
Today All Saints' and its churchyard stands as one particular focal point of the community that is appreciated by everyone and is essential in retaining the character and culture of the village and its community.

Some 35 years ago the churchyard became somewhat neglected, like many are today. In 1978 the Friends was formed and a scheme launched to put the financing of the upkeep of the churchyard on a more satisfactory footing by a regular non-denominational annual appeal to all households in Wrington.

Last year charitable status was secured by the Friends giving substantial tax benefits. Funds collected over the last 3 years have enabled the Friends to contribute in part or full to the grass cutting costs,

the surveying and subsequent remedial work on the churchyard trees,

restoration work on the east and north walls of the churchyard,

the nightly floodlighting of the church,

restoration of the lych gate,

treatment of the outer doors of the church and several other small items in the churchyard.

Similar to any premises with large grounds there is a continuing need for maintenance and restoration,
and the Friends would hope always to be in a position to assist All Saints' financially towards such costs to ensure attention is able to be given sooner rather than later.



Also, since the retirement of Arthur Cockram and Jim Ward from their much appreciated voluntary responsibility for the grass cutting &c it has been necessary to employ a contractor at a cost of some £3,000 per annum towards which the Friends have contributed
2/3rds and would hope to continue to do so.

With such running costs in mind the committee of the Friends decided to make another appeal to all villagers in June this year by way of a door-to-door collection..

This raised approximately £1,300, increasing our annual donations received by bankers order to nearly £1,400, and going some way to help put our finance on a sound basis and ensure that the churchyard is retained as a quiet and attractive haven in the midst of the comings and goings of modern village life.

The costs of this appeal were met by our local estate agent, Messrs Setter & Lee from their generous donation of £250.


We know many people who view this website have close connections with Wrington, and value the character of the village provided, in part, by the magificent church and its grounds.

It's emphasised that the Friends of Wrington Churchyard is a non-denominational charity and this fund does not contribute in any way to the costs of the church as a place of worship.

If you would like to make a contribution to the Friends, please contact our Treasurer, Mr Chris Brown on 01934862067 or
e-mail <chrisbrown445@hotmail.co.uk>.

If you wish to send funds direct to our bank account as a one-off, or on a regular basis, he will arrange this for you.




Any contribution will be most gratefully received and will surely give you the satisfaction of knowing you are helping maintain an important part of the village of Wrington.


Committee:

Pippa Marsh      Hon Chairman
Jeremy Birkett    Hon Secretary
Terry Flaherty     Trustee
Pat Ledbury       Trustee
Andrew Whiting Trustee