what is a friends' group?

A Friends Group will give people from outside the worshipping community a formal way of being involved in supporting the needs of your building. There is a great passion for built heritage and this energy should be nurtured wherever possible.

People associate with buildings, they give structure to the environment, they are signposts we use when moving through the landscape. Historic buildings give a community an iconic structure, a symbol in which great pride can be invested and can provide a communal space where people can come together.

Finding additional support and raising extra funds can be difficult for, what is often, a small congregation. A Friends' Group could really help.  The National Churches Trust Survey demonstrated that, on average per annum, a Friends' Group will raise over £2000 for repairs and maintenance and over £3500 for development and new works.

Who can join a Friends’ Group?

The simple answer is anyone. A Friends’ Group should be open to all and should draw membership from anyone with a connection, or interest, in the building. This interest can stem from architectural significance, prominence in the landscape or familial connection. The Friends’ Group can provide an opportunity for all those interested in the building to contribute and provide funds for the increasing costs required in maintaining historic buildings. You should make sure you advertise your group as widely as possible and try and engage with as many people as you can.  You may be surprised by the range of people who will want to be involved.

What to do as a Friends' Group.

Friends' Groups can work in many ways to raise funds for the regular maintenance of the building.  The initial starting point should be agreeing on a suitable level to set subscription fees that reflect the diversity of membership; for example a very local group may set a smaller fee than those attracting members from a wider geographic area, remember your local members are more likely to be involved in regular fundraising events and donating themselves.

Subscriptions will ensure that administration costs can be covered and also provide funds for promoting the many events the Friends' Group will run.  The Friends' Group could run a variety of activities such as flower festivals, architectural talks, craft fairs, barn dances, quiz nights, children's events, theatrical productions and musical concerts.  Although the focus will be the building the events don't need to be confined to that building try and make the most of any alternative venues and opportunities that arise.

Above all a Friends' Group should provide an engaging way in which local people can contribute to what is probably an iconic building, a building which represents the local community and one in which many people will claim ownership of in their own personal way.  Remember  a Friends' Group is about the building and the general costs of heating, lighting, church services and Parish Share should not be funded by the work of the Friends'.