All Saints Kingston

The Friends of Kingston Parish Church

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The Friends is an organisation committed to the preservation and outreach of All Saints’ Parish Church.

Many members of the congregation are Friends, but this is not a necessary requirement for membership. Anyone who knows and loves this ancient Grade I listed church can be a Friend. We keep in touch by a newsletter twice a year. This goes out in May and September and includes information on the activities that are arranged for services, concerts, mission work and social events. Contributions are welcomed by the Secretary.

The Friends are at present replacing worn-out notice boards in and around the Church. The millennium gift to the Church is a multi-pannelled notice board facing the bus queues outside the John Lewis store. This will be included in the restoration work which is currently in the planning stage.

The Friends of Kingston Parish Church have, over the years, been partly or solely responsible for the following:

Repairs to the bells and the Tower
Restoration and renovation of the sanctuary
Restoration of the 17th centruy memorial of Sir Anthony Benn
Cleaning and regilding of the wall monuments
Removal and resetting of the Skerne memorial
Reglazing windows
Installing glass doors at the West porch
Framing and setting the reproduction of the da Vinci Last Supper (donated by Bentalls plc)
Purchase and restoration of the Bluthner piano
Provision of metal notice boards in the churchyard
Recutting the lettering to the memorial of The Excellent Mr Richard Mayo
Contributions towards the cost of installing the Frobenius organ

Annual Report (April 2007)

The Friends, incorporated in 1906, exist to support the Church Council's work of maintaining our splendid Grade 1 Listed church of All Saints in the centre of Kingston's busy Market Place area.

A small committee organises events and money raised is directed towards the general running costs of the ministry of the church.

When the Appeal was formed for essential building work to the church and the provision of new facilities, The Friends agreed not to embark on individual fund-raising events, but to act as a support to The Appeal Committee and to join in wholeheartedly in raising the large sums of money required.

This they have done and in addition, have been able to contribute to costs that crop up in the daily life of this very busy church. In the last year, The Friends have made financial contributions to the repairs of the chiming clock, the cleaning of choir cassocks, the maintenance of the Bluthner piano, and the childrens workshop, items which help defray the costs that relentlessly fall on the church council.

In lightening these expenses, the church is able to forward a greater sum to missions which is of major importance in our outreach to the less fortunate in society, wherever they may be in the world.

The Friends can help in many ways and there are openings in the daily life of the church where an individual can offer an hour or so each month to help out. No-one is expected to do anything that he or she feel may be too much and if you have some spare time to lend a hand, please have a word with Jonathan or one of the Friends committee listed below.

The annual outing is always popular and well supported. Previous visits have included Ely, Winchester, Chichester, Kings College Cambridge, the day usually ending with Choral Evensong in the cathedral.

All we ask is an annual membership fee of just Ł5 to cover our basic administration. Please join our ranks. We are always pleased to welcome new Friends.

Would you consider becoming a Friend?

Please become a Friend of Kingston Parish Church. There is an annual subscription of Ł10 or you can become a life member by a single subscription of Ł75.

Donations can also be made by Gift Aid, by taking out a Deed of Covenant in favour of the Friends, or by leaving a legacy in your will.

Please contact the Rector.