Friends of St Andrew’s

The Chairman of the Friends of St Andrew’s writes:

The Friends of St Andrew’s seeks to provide regular support towards preserving and improving the fabric of this beautiful historic Church and its surroundings. It is a way of bringing together many people, regular worshippers and others alike, who realise the unique value the Church building and its environment has for the character of Chesterton and the wider community. The Friends financially supports projects identified by the Church as necessary or desirable to maintain and enhance the Grade 1 listed building.

Since it was set up in 1974, The Friends has contributed many thousands of pounds toward the upkeep of the Church building, including restoration work on the Doom Painting, £20,000 for window conservation and restoration, and more recently the installation of the glass doors on the north porch to make sure the building accessible to all and the new Altar dais (platform) and Lectern (Bible reading stand) steps. In 2019 The Friends donated £25,000 to the Organ Restoration Fund to make it suitable for the next 100 years and has pledged another £10,000 towards the new organ screen in the chancel to be completed in 2020.

May we encourage you to join? If so, please complete the Enrolment form and set up a banker’s standing order for your annual subscription. A minimum of £5 is suggested. If you pay income tax, a Gift Aid declaration greatly increases the value of your subscription however you choose to subscribe.

The Friends has a committee which meets twice a year to organise social and fund raising events, and to make decisions about projects to support. Friends receive two letters or emails per year from the Chairman, including an invitation to the AGM, which up to now has been on Ascension Day, and details of fund raising events.

The Friends also arranges a series of concerts which raise money for its aims.

John Reynolds, Chairman of the Friends of St Andrews committee