Christmas cheer from the Friends

The Friends of Essex Churches Trust is delighted to announce its latest grants:

St John the Baptist Leytonstone - £10,000 for re-plastering, stone repairs and other general works.

St Augustine of Canterbury Ashen - £9,000 for buttress repairs and plaster work.

St Anne & St Laurence Elmstead Market - £5,000 for removal and replacement of defective plaster and repairs to box pews.

Manningtree Methodist Church - £6,000 for cupola repairs, stone replacement and other general repairs.

This brings the total allocation of grants offered in 2012 to £104,000.

We are grateful to all our fund raisers and donors who have made this achievement possible.

Ancient Essex churches in the modern landscape

Read about Ancient Essex churches in the modern landscape. An article on this fascinating topic by our vice-chairman, Christopher Starr appeared in the October 2012 issue of Essex Life http://essex.greatbritishlife.co.uk/ and we delighted to reproduce it here with their permission.

To read the article online please click on the image.

Friends’ Christmas fair impresses shoppers

The Friends of Essex Churches held their Christmas fair at Hylands House in Chelmsford on 17 October.

On behalf of the organising committee, Catharine Hutley said:

“We were delighted to welcome Bishop Stephen to our Christmas Fair at Hylands House. He and all the other shoppers seemed to be most impressed with the wide variety of stalls and merchandise on offer and that they found something to their taste and budget. We are optimistic that when we have calculated the takings we will be most satisfied with the day. The committee look forward to welcoming everyone back to Hylands next year.

“Special thanks go to Rachel Grainger who worked so hard and was responsible for the large part of the fair organisation.”

Caption (l-r): Fair organiser Katie Griffith-Jones; porcelain designer Caroline Hely Hutchinson from www.chh-design.com; Bishop Stephen; organiser Catharine Hutley; chair of Friends of Essex Churches James Bettley.

Bishop will give Christmas Gift Fair his blessing on October 17

A Christmas Gift Fair on Wednesday October 17 in aid of charity will have the blessing of the Bishop of Chelmsford, the Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell.

Bishop Stephen will officially open the Fair in Hylands House CM2 8WQ at 10.00am. Shoppers will be able to hunt down the perfect gift.

The organiser of the Fair, Catharine Hutley from Hartford End says: "An impressive range of stalls will offer lots of high quality gifts. We will have everything you need from children’s wooden toys to handmade rugs and scarves. Christmas decorations will also be on sale." The Fair offers the discerning shopper the chance to beat the Christmas rush.

"At Hylands House you will have a chance to solve all your Christmas present problems in one hit," says Catharine, "and get your shopping done early in elegant and calm surroundings."

Coffee and biscuits are included in the entrance fee which is £5 from 10.00am to 1.30pm but then drops down to only £2.50 until the Fair closes at 3.00pm.

The Fair is a popular annual occasion and it is held in a good cause. The proceeds will help the Friends of Essex Churches Trust to give grants to preserve the churches of Essex for future generations.

Catharine adds: "By shopping with us you can support a deserving local charity. Our beautiful and historic church buildings in Essex need our support. What better time to think of churches than at Christmas."

View our events programme for further details.

Videos show support for Ride & Stride on 8 September

Watch our latest video clips as riders, striders and singers from Essex and East London tell their stories about getting behind this year's Ride & Stride fund raiser on 8 September.

To view the videos please click on the image above

MPs join Bishop in pumping up the Ride & Stride 2011

The Bishop of Chelmsford, The Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell, has sent a message of support to all those taking part in the Friends of Essex Churches Trust sponsored Ride and Stride fundraiser in September 2011.

“Churches compete with the enormous demands that the modern world places on people’s time and money,” he said. “We owe an immense amount to the generosity of those who help to make our buildings some of the most beautiful places in our communities.”

“The Friends of Essex Churches Trust keeps a tangible part of our inheritance in good order. More importantly it funds vital work that sustains this legacy for our present and future generations.”

Last year the cyclists and walkers raised an amazing £99,268. Half the money goes to repair the local church building. The other half goes to repair church buildings in Essex and East London.

 

And Essex MPs have also given the event a push in their constituencies.

Robert Halfon MP (Harlow) said:

I’m so pleased to be at this beautiful church of St Mary in Great Pardon, which has just recently been restored inside. I believe that it is the perfect place to launch the Ride and Stride event, as Harlow has some of the most beautiful churches, both old and modern. I am very proud that our community is getting involved with the Ride and Stride; I think it is a wonderful idea.”

 

 

 

 

James Duddridge MP (Rochford & Southend East) is also right behind the Ride & Stride:

“The Ride and Stride event being held in September is a fantastic way for people to get active and visit churches in their local area that they may not have visited for a while or in some cases, have never visited, whilst raising funds for our local churches. I am looking forward in taking part, fingers crossed the weather is sunny!”

 

 

 

Stephen Metcalfe MP met Don Cox when he helped to launch the Ride & Stride 2011 at St Mary's Church in Corringham . Don will be cycling 50 miles for The Friends on September 10th as usual.

Stephen said: “The Friends of Essex Churches Trust Ride & Stride is a fantastic event that offers people the opportunity to visit and appreciate our rich and varied religious heritage, not only in Basildon and Thurrock but also across Essex. It is also an opportunity to raise what I am sure are much needed funds to preseve that heritage for future generations.”

 

 

 

 

Jon Cruddas MP said: “The Friends of Essex Churches Trust Ride & Stride is a great example of people from the various Christian denominations coming together in a good cause. The funds they raise go towards the repair of buildings that are vital community assets as well as places of worship."

The MP for Dagenham and Rainham visited St Mark's Church in Marks Gate to support the 2011 Ride & Stride.

 

 

 

A cycling pilgrimage from Barking to Waltham Abbey via Limehouse will take place on Saturday, September 10. It has been organised by Chris Abbess on behalf of the Chelmsford Diocesan Environmental Group. The pilgrimage theme is ‘Caring for the Environment’ and it will help to contribute funds for the care of Essex churches as part of the annual 'Ride and Stride'.

The 23-mile route is in two parts. Starting at 10am from St Margaret's, on the site of Barking Abbey, to St Katherine's, mainly following the Bazalgette Greenway and the Limehouse Cut. There will be time for a break before retracing the path back to the Regent's Canal, Victoria Park and joining the Lee Valley route all the way to Waltham Abbey.

Chris says: “We start in groups from St Margaret's Revd Canon Gordon Tarry will be sending us off. We break for lunch at about 12.30pm at St Katherine's, Limehouse (retreat /conference centre). The Master is willing for us to eat our sandwiches on the lawn and take a peek at the chapel.

“Arrival at Waltham Abbey will be about 4.30pm. Revd Peter Smith will welcome us and we're expecting that Bishop David will address us after we have all assembled.

“If you have never tried riding on these routes you're in for a big adventure. It is amazing to be travelling through the East London area away from the city streets and traffic.”

- If you would like to take part in the pilgrimage, contact Chris Abbess on 020 8504 2344.

 

The Rt Revd Dr Laurie Green, acting Bishop of Chelmsford, has presented the Winners Cup to Kelvedon Hatch. The presentation marks the achievement of cyclists from St Nicholas' Church, Kelvedon Hatch, in making the largest single contribution to the 2009 Ride & Stride - £2,359. The presentation took place on 2 August 2010 at the church.

 

In the picture from left to right are Fiona Nelmes (Organiser of the Ride & Stride), Chris Jardine, Ride & Stride 2009 winner, from St Nicholas’ Church, Kelvedon Hatch), Rt Revd Dr Laurie Green (Acting Bishop of Chelmsford), Colin Brown (Ride & Stride 2009 winner, from St Nicholas’ Church, Kelvedon Hatch), Claire Cottrell (Chairman, Friends of Essex Churches Trust). Not pictured: Hugh Gorton (Ride & Stride 2009 winner, from St Nicholas’ Church, Kelvedon Hatch).

Bishop blesses life-saving helicopter

The acting Bishop of Chelmsford did a blessing with a difference this week: he blessed the Essex Air Ambulance helicopter and Air Crew. The Right Reverend Dr Laurie Green came to Boreham Airbase, where the helicopter is based and prayed for the crew and the people whom the Air Ambulance helps.

The Bishop said: “This is a special moment. It’s not every day that a Bishop has the opportunity to bless a helicopter. But it is very appropriate, because the Air Ambulance does life-saving work. Essex Air Ambulance is a charity and it relies on the generosity of people to keep the helicopter in the air. I am thrilled that over the weekend of 27-28 February supporters of The Friends of Essex Churches Trust will team up with the Essex Air Ambulance Trust in the Great Essex Feast to raise funds together.”

The concept is really simple: the people of Essex are invited to host simultaneous dinner and lunch parties across the county during the weekend of 27th and 28th February 2010. However big or small the party, hosts are asked to wine and dine their guests, provide good food and entertainment of their choosing and request a donation from each person. Hosts are free to hold whatever type of dinner party they wish, whether it be a fish and chip supper or gourmet dinner. All the funds raised from the weekend will be split equally between Essex Air Ambulance and Friends of Essex Churches Trust.

If you would like to be a Great Essex Feast dinner party host simply click here or call Wendy Byland on 0845 2417 690.

All hosts who register will receive a Great Essex Feast registration pack which includes invitations to send to guests, suggested recipes and cocktail ideas, wine tips and lots more including a free wine tasting evening on 28th January.

Photograph captions

1) From left to right: Air Crew Doctor Peter Temesvari, Air Crew Doctor Mary Morgan, Air Crew Paramedic Laurie Phillipson, Captain Dave Surtees and Right Reverend Dr Laurie Green.

 

 

 

2) Right Reverend Dr Laurie Green blesses the Essex Air Ambulance Air Crew: Air Crew Doctor Mary Morgan and Captain Dave Surtees (inside the helicopter), Air Crew Doctor Peter Temesvari and Air Crew Paramedic Laurie Phillipson (outside the helicopter).

 

 

 

 

The Essex Air Ambulance is a vital life-saving Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS). It costs around £250,000 each month to cover all charitable costs and aircraft operations including the provision of doctors. The service enables clinicians and life-saving support equipment to be rushed to the scene of an incident and the patient can be flown to an appropriate hospital. The Essex Air Ambulance receives no National Lottery funding and is reliant upon donations from the public and local businesses to raise funds in order to keep the Air Ambulance flying.

Friends of Essex Churches is a non-denominational charity and raises money for the repair and restoration of Christian churches and chapels in Essex and East London. Like Essex Air Ambulance, the charity is totally reliant on the generosity of the Essex public.

The Great Essex Feast

FECT has joined forces with the Essex Air Ambulance for an exciting fund-raising event.  We are asking people across the county to hold dinner or lunch parties on the weekend of 27-28 February 2010 in aid of both charities.  As a host you can ask as many, or as few, guests as you like and make the meal as formal or informal as you wish.  What we do ask is that each of your friends gives a donation. To add to the fun there will be an on-line auction which will enable guests to bid for some fantastic prizes.

If you would like to host a party with a difference, please click here for more details and information about how to register.

 

 

2009 Ride and stride

Hundreds of churches in Essex and East London will be taking part in the 2009 Friends of Essex Churches Trust sponsored Ride & Stride this Saturday, 12 September - when cyclists and walkers will travel from church to church by bike or on foot to raise funds to repair and restore churches and chapels.

This year's Ride & Stride was officially launched today, Monday 7 September, by Essex sporting ambassador, Russell Hampton. A top cyclist, Russell has been recognised by Essex County Council as having the potential to compete in the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games.  
The launch took place at St Thomas’ Church in Brentwood.  St Thomas’ raised £2,400 in the 2008 Ride & Stride. This was the best church contribution. The Bishop of Brentwood, Rt Revd Thomas McMahon, presented a trophy to Roland Platt from St Thomas’ at the launch to mark the achievement.

 

 

Contact:
For more information contact Mrs Fiona Nelmes, Ride & Stride Organiser
Tel 01245 380365
Email fionanelmes@lineone.net

 

Ride & Stride 2008

Ride & Stride raised £106,409in last year's event. Please click here to view the 2008 results.

New Chairman elected

Mrs Claire Cottrell DL, from Birch near Colchester, was elected chairman of the Friends of Essex Churches Trust at the Annual General Meeting on May 14. She succeeded Mrs Julia Abel Smith DL. Claire Cottrell has said: "My grandmother, Mrs Charles Round, was the founder member of The Friends of Essex Churches Trust in 1951. You can imagine how much pleasure it gives me to be chairman by following in her footsteps." 

The AGM heard that the Trust gave nearly £200,000 in grants to 24 projects for the repair and restoration of churches and chapels in 2008.

The AGM was held at St Mary's Church in Bocking. The Dean of Bocking, the Very Revd Canon Philip Need, showed members the newest stained glass in St Mary’s which had been installed on the previous day. This, he said, is the latest chapter in the history of the church which began when land was given for a church to be built in 995 AD. Bocking has the distinction of being the oldest of just six 'peculiar' parishes in England - called 'peculiar' because it came directly under the jurisdiction of the Archbishops of Canterbury. 

Promotional Posters

To promote the aims of FOECT please download our promotional poster. The poster is available in both A4 and A3 sizes. To download the posters, which are in PDF format, please click on one of the links below:

Download A4 poster
Download A3 poster

Once downloaded the posters can be printer on your desk top printer and saved on your computer..