Friends of St Laurence’s Church, Chorley
Chair’s Report 2024
Dear Members.
In January 2024 I was pleased and honoured to be voted in as the new Chair of the Friends of St Laurence’s Church (FoSL). I thank all our membership for their support during the year, both in terms of their financial contribution and their help and advice when I’ve needed it.
For 2024 the PCC tasked FoSL with two projects. To look at ways of helping access to the first-floor meeting and function room for those with mobility difficulties and to look at fund raising for repair of the stained glass window in the belfry tower.
Both these tasks have been the focus of our meetings over the past year. Initially we had been advised that a platform lift was perhaps the best option and investigations were made regarding building requirements and the associated costs. Two companies were contacted and similar costs were quoted. The potential cost of the lift and the construction of the lift shaft are in the region of £50,000. Not only is this a substantial amount of money, but the Committee were concerned about the amount of disruption the building works would cause and the loss of one of the toilets to the church. The Committee has decided to look at other options, in particular a chair lift. Stannah have carried out a survey and we await their report.
With regards our second project, members will be aware of the exhibition of photographs of the Stained Glass Windows which are on view until the end of January. Our hope is to raise awareness of the importance of these windows and the work that is required to preserve them. Copies of these photographs are for sale in the Church Shop. For this project we are looking at costs around £12,000. My thanks to Brian Clarke, photographer and Treasurer of FoSL for all his efforts in putting it together and building on a legacy of information and knowledge shared by David Thistlethwaite, Linda Merrington and the late Marion Rawnsley.
For both these projects we hope to take advantage of available grant funding.
During the year FoSL has made funding contributions towards the purchase of the new donations box and the payments for new Seasonal Banners for the Church Shop which we feel sure will promote church
income. We have also agreed to sponsor and support the promotion of Community Working Together with entry once again into the Community Garden Event at Chorley Flower Show in July.
You the members are the backbone of the Friends, without your continued support and membership we would not have the basic funding we need to push forward with major projects. I hope that you will continue to support our efforts on behalf of the church and renew your membership for 2025.
Another group I must thank are the Standish Stitchers. The specific items made by this group are sold in the shop and all the proceeds from sales are donated to the Friends. I cannot underestimate the importance of their contribution. My personal thanks to Anne Wray and her team.
I would like to finish by thanking the Officers and Committee Members of the Friends for their continued support, their advice and their council this past year. Fund raising is not getting any easier and their thoughts and ideas on how to achieve results are crucial to our ongoing progress. All of us are volunteers, all of us have other commitments, but we are all totally committed to helping St Laurence’s Church to the best of our ability.
Thank you
Alistair Morwood
Chair of FoSL
January 2025
Friends of St Laurence Chorley Statement of Accounts 31st December 2024 Income Expendlture Income Family Substription134 members) Individual SubscTiPtion121 members) Donations (Corporatel Donation (lust Givin81 Donatlons Iotherl Sales Istandish Stitchers and Books) SubscrlptSon by Installment12 members) Gift Aid- HMRC £1,275.00 El,l¢XJ.00 £0.00 £980.70 £258.46 £1,481.80 £78.00 £442.49 Total £5,616.45 Expendlture Steffany Collette Iweb Consultant) Insurances Contribution to Donatlon Box New Banner £142.80 £400.00 £48.78 Total £591.58 Openlng Balance Brwht Fornard Total Income Sub totsl Expenditure £3,017.08 £5,616.45 £8,633.53 £591.58 Current Bahnee £8,041.95 x6zS