St Mary's is a member of the Quiet Garden Trust
The Friends of St Mary's
The Friends were first formed in 1961 as
Cornerstones, changing to Friends in 1971 when the constitution was drawn up.
The Friends are a group of people who love the building and the worship at St
Mary, Beddington and are willing to contribute financially and actively to
preserve them.
All Friends have some connection to this church.
Many worship here or have worshipped here and have moved away. Others live in
the area or have family connections and wish the old parish church to remain an
important and cared for building in Beddington.
All Friends give a donation each year towards
allowing some refurbishment to be made or an essential item to be bought which
would not be possible from the Church’s general funds.
Over the past twenty years Friends have paid for
protection for the stained glass windows, new altar cloths and linen, new
vestments to replace ones that were threadbare, equipment for the Sunday School
and Choir, floodlighting and new amplification. All the projects have enhanced
the building and the worship and given the church a "cared-for feel".
There is a small Friends' Committee, appointed by
the PCC, who meet to consider requests and see the projects through to fruition.
If you would like to know more please
contact
us.
Friends contribute as little or as much as they
wish. If they pay tax and have filled in a form (yellow form in the mauve folder
under the tower) the rebate also goes to The Friends. Payment can be made in
cash, by cheque or standing order.