**Friends’ Annual Report 2023** _Supporting Suffolk’s Cathedral since 1942_ ## **FRIENDS OF ST. EDMUNDSBURY CATHEDRAL** ## Registered Charity 262815 Established 1942 ## **Patron** The Lord Lieutenant of the County of Suffolk ## **President** The Right Reverend the Diocesan Bishop ## **Deputy President** The Right Reverend the Bishop of Dunwich ## **Vice President** Mr Robert Rous DL, Vice Lord Lieutenant of the County of Suffolk ## **Director** Mrs Susan Cockram ## **FRIENDS’ COUNCIL** ## **Chairman** Mrs Diana Hunt ## **Members** Mr Ian Brookman FCA (Hon Treasurer) Miss Alison Evans Mr Neville Horn Miss Louise Martin Mr Tom McKenney Mr Stephen Miles Mrs Nella Probert ## **Ex-Officio** The Very Reverend the Dean of St Edmundsbury The Reverend Canon Pastor, Sub Dean The Reverend Philip Banks, Precentor The Cathedral Wardens 2 ## **ANNUAL FESTIVAL SATURDAY 24 JUNE 2023** Our 2023 Festival programme 2.00 pm **AGM** in the Edmund Room 3.00 pm **Friends Concert** by the Cathedral Choirs, in the Cathedral 3.30 pm **Afternoon Tea** in Pilgrims’ Kitchen 4.15 pm **Evensong** Tickets for tea are **£10.50** per person _Please apply for tickets using the booking form enclosed._ 3 ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** ## **Legal structure** The Friends are an un-incorporated charity, number 262815, operating with a constitution adopted on the 20 June 1942 and amended on 22 July 1972. The trustees meet three times a year with the day-to-day operation of the charity delegated to the Director, Secretary and Treasurer. ## **Objects** To support and encourage the Dean and Chapter in their work and to add to the fabric and beauty of the Cathedral by contributing towards its restoration, maintenance and improvements as a token of the gratitude which the people of Suffolk, and others, owe to Almighty God. ## **Trustees** The trustee body consists of the following ex office trustees: The President, Deputy President, The Dean, The Canon Pastor, Director, Secretary, Treasurer and the Cathedral Wardens. The trustee body includes up to 9 trustees elected to represent the Archdeaconries. ## **Public benefit** In planning the Friends activities for the year, the trustees kept in mind the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit at the trustees’ meetings. 4 ## **A MESSAGE FROM OUR PATRON** **This has been such a tumultuous year for all of us and central to everything has been a splendid series of events here in Suffolk’s beautiful Cathedral.** The Jubilee Service in June bedecked with those glorious flower arrangements. The Aldeburgh Music concert, and then the great shock of the death of Her Majesty the Queen and our own service of remembrance. This year we have had a glorious service to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla, and on every occasion we have had the privilege of being together in our beautiful Cathedral. I would particularly like to pay tribute this year to the work of the Friends. You are the beating heart of Cathedral life, you contribute so much not just financially but with your time and dedication, you make such a real difference. May I also thank on everyone’s behalf Sue Cockram and the Friends Council, Arthur Tanner for his tours, and those behind the hugely successful Quirky Talks. I look forward to welcoming new Friends in the year ahead. Well done to you all and thank you. With warmest wishes ## **Clare, Countess of Euston His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Suffolk** 5 ## **A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN** **I think it was Holy Week and Easter this year which finally helped me to realise that the long shadow cast by the COVID pandemic had lifted.** Although, for many, its effects will be felt for ever, at least here at the Cathedral, the lifting of the final restrictive measures and the restoration of all our customary activities has been accompanied by a sense of return among regular members of our community and our thousands of visitors. The attendance on Easter Day was higher than before COVID, and the increase in visitors has surpassed pre-2019 levels. Our incredibly dedicated staff team has continued to ride the wave of return by taking advantage of the possibilities it has brought. Our Director of Music Timothy Parsons, feet now firmly under the organ console, along with his dedicated team has been busy recruiting to the front row of the choir stalls. We are delighted and proud that forty children are now enrolled as choristers and probationers, augmented by new Vicars Choral on the back row. The music at St Edmundsbury, evidenced week by week and on special occasions, is rightly growing in reputation and appreciation. Look out for a CD! Our Welcome team, shop and Pilgrims’ Kitchen staff and volunteers have welcomed record numbers in 2022-3. For the first time the turnover in our Cathedral Enterprises exceeded £250,000, a testament to hard working staff and dedicated volunteers. Schools have been returning to the Cathedral and our Learning Hub team have put on half term and school holiday activities. Our events programme, both to raise funds and celebrating arts and music continues to grow and develop, ensuring that the cathedral space is filled with music, activity and bustle almost every day. 6 Of particular significance for me has been the growth in our social action portfolio. Our first _Hope into Action House_ , providing accommodation for a vulnerable family in need of housing and support has been opened. ‘ _The Yard Project’_ , a social action ecoproject by young people and for young people was opened by our High Sheriff, Mark Pendlington on Easter Saturday. ‘ _Together on Tuesdays’_ , a monthly service and tea for those who value a shorter and simpler service, specifically tailored for people with dementia and their families, is well established. There is more that I could mention but suffice it to say that St Edmundsbury Cathedral has an outward facing, inclusive and generous place of hospitality and has caught the imagination of the whole Cathedral community. These projects have been started by and are led by a wide range of staff and volunteers. Alongside all our new activities, the sound of music and worship, diocesan and county services continues, always striving to be the best that we can, responding to the abundance of God’s love and generosity with a warmth of welcome and the very best that we can offer. I remain immensely grateful for and appreciative of the hard work of the Friends of St Edmundsbury Cathedral. In 2022-3 you have made an immensely generous donation towards our pews to chair project. All hurdles overcome, we expect to see the new chairs installed before the end of the year. Other grants agreed have included a display case for the Dunwich Crozier, (a superb piece of contemporary silverwork), new coffin trestles and our Welcome desk. The hard work of the Friends Council and fundraising team rightly has the heartfelt thanks of the cathedral Chapter, to which I am delighted to add my own! **The Very Reverend Joe Hawes Dean of St Edmundsbury** 7 ## **THE YARD PROJECT** ## **Social Action Eco Project at Hundleby Yard** **During the past 12 months the Yard has evolved into a hospitable and creative space for young people.** Today we have a clean, warm and welcoming garden room with a kitchenette and colourful hand painted murals. The garden has weather shelters, wildlife habitats, fruit and vegetables and a handy tool shed. We have also renovated the outside toilet next to the bike shed. **----- Start of picture text -----**
2022
2023
**----- End of picture text -----**
We significantly stretched the original _Dulverton Trust_ funding by using recycled and donated materials, with the valued help of our volunteers. Additional funding has since been received which will keep the gates open until 2024. Our first eco-activity session took place in February half term 2022, when young people from the Cathedral community created a bee hotel from discarded cupboards. Since then, we have been able to open during the school holidays with funding from the _Holiday and Activities Food Programme_ , known as HAF. 8 HAF is for young people whose families are eligible for free school meals or have an identified need, such as refugees. HAF pays for food, materials and a youth support worker to mentor the young participants. In consultation with young participants, our current activity sessions include preparing and cooking vegetarian soup and sausages over a fire pit, eco-crafts such as bird box building and playing ball games in the Garth. Through the HAF programme and with the _Dulverton Trust_ funding we supported 45 young people in 2022, many of whom returned time and again. Our survey results indicate that 80% of young people’s mood and wellbeing improved after time spent at The Yard. We are very grateful to everyone who has helped The Yard project to reach a point where we can provide a safe, welcoming space to more young people, more of the time. **Jane Dow Youth Project Lead** 9 ## **MAKING A CROWN OF THORNS** ## **An object of humiliation and shame transformed into a symbol of triumph.** **Sitting in the cathedral one day, with the sun coming through the windows and lighting the wonderful space under the tower, it occurred to me that a Crown of Thorns sculpture could be suspended over the nave altar for Easter.** The idea bounced around for a while and I made a simple model and showed it to Philip Banks, who took the idea to the Chapter. They agreed, and this left me with the task of bringing the idea to reality: As you know, it’s easy to have ideas, making them actually happen can be a very different matter! The nave is long and to be visible, the crown needed to be large, about as wide as the nave altar, three metres. The thorns also had to be substantial, taking the form of blades up to 50 cm long. Stainless steel seemed an ideal material in terms of durability, and so construction started by bending, interweaving and welding stainless rods to make a basic framework. The thorns were cut from stainless sheet and welded to the rods to produce the crown. **----- Start of picture text -----**
10
**----- End of picture text -----**
It wasn’t a deliberate planned design, there weren’t any drawings, or even notes: only a circle drawn on the workbench to keep things roughly circular. The structure grew organically, one stage leading to the next until, finally it just looked right. The rods were then textured by overlay welding to give an irregular organic and reflective surface. When finished the Crown was heavy, unwieldy and incredibly unfriendly: I have the scars to remind me! For ease of handling and storage, it was cut into three segments, and joining plates were fitted, secured by 20 bolts. Suspension chains and shackles with a 7:1 load safety margin allowed connection to the tower winches. As a final touch, the upward pointing thorns were gilded with pure gold leaf. The installation under the tower was surprisingly smooth: Steve, Lewis and Ben took the whole operation in their stride (they’re a great team). The result was something of a relief, as the Crown fitted into the space quite well. As a final touch the crown was illuminated with red LED spotlights, greatly increasing its visual impact and also producing a changing series of reflections to give a dynamic effect as you walked around. **----- Start of picture text -----**
12
**----- End of picture text -----**
On Easter Saturday Vicki Hease decorated the crown with ivy and phalaenopsis orchids. This produced a further transformation: from the west end of the nave, the crown appeared to be a large flower arrangement, but at you walked towards the altar, the golden thorns gradually came into view, a golden halo above the greenery and blossom. Reflecting on the overall experience, I can’t say I designed the crown: it emerged without a great deal of conscious effort. In a strange sense it built itself… ## **Dr Steve Jones** 13 st Edmundsbury Cathedral East Anglian Artists, Exhibition Friday 9 June - Friday 16 June Come and view the amazing talent of the outstanding local artists we have here in East Anglia. At St Edmundsbury Cathedral Open weekdays 9.30 am - 5.30 pm Sundays 12.00 pm to 4.30 pm ## **MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY’S REPORT** **Thank you all for your support of the Cathedral Friends over the past years. Our numbers are growing (slowly) and I am hoping that we shall see more visitors at the Cathedral and an increasing number of Friends joining us in 2023.** Those of you who pay your subscription annually by cheque may well have overlooked your payment last year but I would appreciate it if you could now renew your subscription which is still extremely or . good value at **£15 per person £25 for a couple** Other subscription options are available including the ability to pay by standing order or you may like to consider purchasing a life membership from as little as £100 for individuals over 65 - details can be found on the Cathedral Website **stedscathedral.org** - search for the word Friends and you will find a link to our page with a flyer and application form. Why not encourage a friend of yours to support our wonderful Cathedral by giving them a Friends subscription for a year? This would make an attractive Birthday, Easter or Christmas gift - or maybe as a thank-you for their friendship over the past year. **This year I would like to make sure that I have the correct email contact details for you all. If you do not receive emails from the Friends currently, but would like to help us reduce our carbon footprint and our postage costs then please do let me know your email address.** Also if you have any queries about your subscription please do get in touch and I shall be happy to assist. You can contact me on **01284 716499** or via email **friends@stedscathedral.org** Subscription cheque renewals can be posted for my attention to: _The Membership Secretary, The Friends of St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Cathedral Office, Abbey House, Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1LS_ Looking forward to seeing many of you again in 2023. **Louise Martin Membership Secretary** 15 ## **FRIENDS 2022 HOLIDAY TO CANTERBURY AND DOVER** **A group of Friends went on the annual holiday to Kent last September, leaving Ram Meadow in good heart.** On the way we visited the Church of All Saints Tudeley, near Tonbridge to see the famous Marc Chagall windows and then onto Ightham Mote, a moated manor house now managed by the National Trust before reaching our hotel in Dover overlooking the sea! We spent the following day in Canterbury visiting the beautiful cathedral and the town. We were made very welcome by Canterbury Friends! Next day, many of us walked up to Dover Castle - a steep climb for some of us, but well worth the effort. Dover’s secret wartime tunnels, expertly maintained by English Heritage, were fascinating. On the way back to Suffolk, we stopped at Knole, a country house and former archbishop's palace also owned by the National Trust. We arrived back in Ram Meadow in the early evening, all having greatly enjoyed the time away. Our thanks go to Art and Sue Tanner for all their hard work in arranging holiday. Fantastic organisers! We are looking forward to Derbyshire later this year! ## **BRICKS!** ## **The first in our series of Quirky Talks** ## **Bricks! Who would have thought that bricks would have made such an interesting talk and slide show?** On a beautiful sunny afternoon, we visited Brockley Village Hall, where we were enlightened by Peter Minter, the current owner of the _Bulmer Brick and Tile Company_ , which is situated south of Sudbury. Here, there are different soils, which have been worked by brick and tile makers for several centuries. A slide demonstrated that the site could provide the many colours that are needed to make the bricks and tiles used to renovate buildings far and wide. Their products are still hand made and he demonstrated the workings of different kilns. One of their largest contracts was to refurbish _St. Pancras Station._ _Picture Peter Minter (left) and his son Tony © Victoria Birkinshaw_ Have you ever marvelled at the tiles on the old _Café Rouge_ in Bury? Peter explained that these were made in moulds and then hand cut. They have an ongoing repair contract for the 366 chimneys at Hampton Court. They were also employed to rescue the crumbling wreck that was Bury station. Our thanks are due to Sue Cockram and her committee, who provided an excellent tea before we departed after a very interesting afternoon. ## **Celia Baldwin** 17 ## **“SOME EXPERIENCES OF A COUNTRY JUDGE”** **The second in our series of Quirky Talks** _Title borrowed from Somerville and Ross_ ## **Over a hundred Friends attended our second Quirky Talk, held at Lavenham Village Hall, in March.** Judge John Devaux, retired Circuit Judge at Ipswich Courts, gave a very amusing and informative talk on his experiences as a judge. He explained how his varied career ended up as being the Honorary Recorder at the Courts, before he retired. A delicious home-made tea followed, kindly provided by members of the Friends Council. Everyone greatly enjoyed the afternoon. ## **MORE ABOUT OUR QUIRKY TALKS** ## **Our series of Quirky Talks form part of our fundraising** **activities for our Cathedral.** We aim to make these affordable and available to all. Reflecting that the Cathedral is the Mother Church of Suffolk, we are keen to move them around the county - enabling more Friends to come and more Suffolk people to hear about us. Look out for our next one in early 2024 - details to follow. If you have an idea for a Quirky Speaker, or could suggest a venue to host us, please get in touch with the Director. As part of our outreach work, we are keen to work with parish churches across the Diocese to our mutual benefit. ## **GARDEN TOUR AND TALK** **Friends Members Stephen and Petrina Miles have very kindly invited us to visit their beautiful garden at Great Ashfield, near Bury, from 2.30 pm on 21 September 2023.** There will be a talk from Matthew Long of _Riverside Bulbs_ who will also have bulbs for us to purchase. There will be an opportunity to walk around the garden and our visit will conclude with afternoon tea. _Details to follow._ 18 ## **VISIT TO ST STEPHEN’S CHAPEL BURES 30 June 2022** **After so much sunshine 30 Friends travelling in various cars set off on a cool and cloudy day.** Arthur and Sue Tanner, our passengers entertained us on both legs of our journey, as well as giving helpful directions to the Chapel, and later, to Great Bevills, the home of Geoffrey and Nella Probert, where we were to have our picnic lunches. St Stephen’s Chapel is not the easiest place to find, but it repays the effort. Cuckoo Hill is quite steep and narrow, even narrower is the bridleway which steeply wends its way down towards the chapel. We parked on a mown lawn underneath a canopy of mature trees with the twelfth century chapel in front of us - an idyllic setting. On entering the Chapel, you are immediately aware of the peace and tranquillity in such a beautiful, thatched chapel. Bishop Graeme was on top form as he compared the rites of St Edmund’s Coronation in 855 (or thereabouts) with Queen Elizabeth’s well over 1,000 years later. We were reminded of St Edmund’s battle with the Viking hordes, his capture, a target for Viking bows when he refused to renounce his Christian faith, and then beheading him. Bishop Graeme drew our attention to the sword and the sceptre; justice tempered by mercy and the ritual for coronations and the anointing with holy oil which has marked each Christian king and queen of England up to, and including, Queen Elizabeth. The service closed with a hymn; taken from Psalm 100, “All people that on earth do dwell” in the absence of an organ the assembled groups sang rather lustily and in tune! Geoffrey Probert told us of the oral tradition that St Edmund King & Martyr was crowned on Christmas Day 855 AD in the vicinity of the Chapel- indeed a large boulder shows the exact spot. 19 The first documentary references to the coronation at Bures are 12thc but the monks who recorded it may well have worked from earlier now lost MSS and the fact that the site was considered important enough for Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury to consecrate the Chapel we now see in 1218 lends credence to the story. The original chapel forms the eastern two thirds of the current building. At the time of the Reformation, the chapel was sacked, for anything remotely to do with King Edmund was dealt with particularly rigorously. Once derelict, the structure was converted into cottages and then as a barn. For the next four hundred years it was used for agricultural storage. In the 1930s the Badcock and Probert families who owned it, restored the eastern part of the chapel and it provided a home for the tombs of the De Veres, the Earls of Oxford, which had been at Colne Priory. There is a good collection of glass from the 16[th] and 17 centuries as well as two panels of medieval glass. Outside we saw the site commemorating the Coronation of St Edmund and across the valley was a huge dragon, outlined in white – very impressive! It was only a couple of minutes’ drive down to Great Bevills where we then moved. The House was built in 1490 by Sir Richard Waldegrave, it was extensively restored in 1923 when the north and south gable ends were rebuilt. The estate is managed with diversity in mind, new woods have been planted, seven miles of hedges laid. The gardens are exquisite with water-gardens in abundance and a beautiful rose garden. The terrace was all ready for our picnic lunches and the Proberts kindly offered us coffee before we departed, they were wonderful hosts, Geoffrey’s knowledge of the Chapel was so extensive. As we returned home the sun came out – a perfect end to a perfect day. **John & June Robson July 2022** 20 ## **PROJECTS SUPPORTED BY THE FRIENDS IN RECENT YEARS** |2009|Items for the Edmund Chapel, purchase of Art Work and|13,000| |---|---|---| ||grants to the Discovery Centre, the Cathedral Choir and|| ||repairs to the Verger’s Staff|| |2010|Refurbishment of Cathedral Toilets, restoration work to|16,500| ||Hardy picture of the Abbey, and printing of prayer cards|| |2011|Grant towards display cases in new Treasury|20,000| |2012|Contribution towards casting of the 13th bell|2,000| ||Contribution towards rewiring of lights in the Lady Chapel|1,250| |2013|Contribution towards Bishop’s Crozier Case|2,000| ||Contribution towards cost of South Aisle roof repairs|5,000| |2014|Grant towards book survey in Ancient Library|800| ||Cost of new Altar linen|300| ||Repair to Bishop’s Crozier and cost of new microphone|622| |2015|Contribution towards West End Refurbishment and grant|10,020| ||for repair of the Jubilee Cross|| |2016|First contribution towards Bishops’ & Deans’ Stone|2,000| |2017|Further contribution towards Bishops’ & Deans’ Stone|3,000| ||Contribution towards new hymn books|1,200| ||Contribution towards cleaning Reynolds Memorials and|1,000| ||West End window|| |2018|Contribution to the WW1 work on Clerestory Windows and|2,716| ||library roof repairs|| ||Altar Frontal and Dossal for The Lady Chapel|7,525| ||Final contribution towards Bishops’ & Deans’ Stone|600| |2019|Restoration of Ancient Library books|1,000| |2020|Contribution to Abbey Millennium Anniversary Stone|5,000| ||AV equipment for livestreaming of Services|1,400| |2022|Restoration of_The Infant St John with A Lamb_by|750| ||J. W. Guillod (1850)|| ||Contribution towards new chairs for the Nave|50,000| 21 ## **TRANSFERRING SHARES TO THE FRIENDS** It is a fact that individuals can get income tax relief on the value of their donations to charity of quoted shares and securities. This is especially useful to any donor who is a higher or top rate taxpayer. _For instance: a 40% taxpayer would receive a relief of £4,000 on a donation of £10,000. Effectively, the donation would have cost £6,000. Moreover, potential capital gains tax on a disposal is avoided as it is a gift to a charity._ If you would like to make a donation to _the Friends_ via share transfer, please contact the Director. ## **LEGACIES** It is a straightforward matter to make a bequest to support our work. The following wording will enable you to make a bequest in our favour. “ _I give (state the sum in words and in figures) to The Friends of St. Edmundsbury Cathedral (Charity No 262815), Cathedral Office, Abbey House, Angel Hill, Bury St. Edmunds IP33 1LS and I declare that the receipt of the Treasurer or other duly authorised officer of the charity shall be a good and sufficient discharge to my Trustees”._ If a will is altered at a later date, the legacy can form a codicil to the will, and provided the codicil is signed by the donor in the presence of two independent witnesses and dated, it may be kept as an attachment to the original will by the solicitor. ## **SUBSCRIPTIONS** We are always keen to welcome new Friends from across the Diocese and beyond. Please feel free to expand the membership by inviting a colleague or friend to join. Friends annual subscription is set at **£15** per person or **£25** per couple at the same address. Life membership rates Corporate Membership, open to Church Councils, Schools, Clubs and Private Groups, is an annual minimum subscription of **£25** . Corporate Membership for Registered Businesses is **£75** per annum. 22 **FRIENDS OF ST. EDMUNDSBURY CATHEDRAL** ## **Agenda for the 81st Annual General Meeting** ## **2.00 pm Saturday 24 June 2023 in the Edmund Room** 1. Welcome and Prayers 2. Apologies 3. Appointment and reappointment of Officers 4. Minutes of the last AGM (23 July 2022) _enclosed_ 5. Matters Arising 6. Dean’s Report 7. Director’s Report _enclosed_ 8. Presentation of the Accounts _enclosed_ 9. Appointment and Ratification of Independent Examiner 10. Ongoing grants 11. Changes to Membership of the Friends’ Council 12. Any Other Business ** - _** Any items for Any Other Business to be notified to the Secretary by 10 June 2023_ 23 ## **FRIENDS OF ST. EDMUNDSBURY CATHEDRAL Minutes of the AGM held on Saturday 23rd July 2022** ## **Welcome** Bishop Mike opened the 80th Friends AGM with a welcome for all present and an apology from Lady Clare Euston. He spoke about his three-month sabbatical travels and reminded us that it was St Bridget’s Day today and led prayers with the collect for St Bridget, and a prayer from St George’s, Jerusalem. He wished the Friends a happy 80th birthday. ## **Apologies** Apologies were received from Lady Clare Euston (Patron), Sue Cockram (Director) and fourteen members of the Friends. ## **Appointment and re-appointment of Officers** Diana Hunt, as Chairman, was re-appointed, as were Sue Cockram as Director, and Ian Brookman as Treasurer. Jane Olive has retired as Minutes Secretary and Liz Rowlands was welcomed as her successor. ## **Minutes of the last AGM - 24th July 2021** The Minutes of the last AGM were approved as accurate by all at the meeting and were signed by Bishop Mike. There were no matters arising. ## **Dean’s Report** The Dean presented a detailed report on the activities over the past twelve months, and a copy is held in the minute book for future reference. The Dean highlighted growing congregations, especially for the new “All Age” 9am Sunday Service. He thanked the _Dulverton Trust_ for their support in launching the Yard Project in engaging with young people as well as the work of the cathedral’s Learning Department. He outlined plans for a dementia-friendly cathedral, and the partnership with _Hope into Action_ to support those in housing need. 24 The Dean thanked Tim Parsons for his leadership of the Music Department and paid tribute to all of our choirs for their enthusiastic support of Cathedral worship. He updated the meeting on the Cathedral’s financial position. In closing, the Dean thanked Diana Hunt, Chairman, Sue Cockram as Director and Ian Brookman, Treasurer, for their fantastic work and support, alongside the Friends Council and Friends. ## **Director’s Report** The Director’s Report had been circulated to all Members prior to the AGM and was formally adopted by the meeting. ## **Presentation of Accounts** Ian Brookman presented the accounts for the year ended 13 December 2021. The report is set out in the Friends’ Annual Report. He noted that a contribution towards the new chairs of up to £50,000 had been made. Reserves stood at £146,000, and a donation has since been received. The accounts were approved by unanimous vote. ## **Appointment and Ratification of Independent Examiner** In the last two years no independent examination of the accounts had been necessary but _Gascoynes_ are happy to be re-appointed at a cost of £200 +VAT. This was proposed by the Treasurer and carried. ## **Ongoing grants** Ongoing grants for the new chairs and £750 towards flowers have been made. ## **Membership of the Council** Membership of the Council remains the same. 25 ## **THE 2023 DIRECTOR’S REPORT** **In my Autumn newsletter I referred to the death of Queen Elizabeth and the great dedication she had given to our Country. In early May we celebrated the Coronation of King Charles III – may his reign be long, and I am sure he will bring many talents to the United Kingdom as our King.** Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the County celebration service held in the Cathedral, but I understand it was a memorable service. When it comes to pomp and ceremony the UK is unrivalled. I am pleased to report we continue slowly to increase our membership, but we need more – please try to recruit your friends – there are membership forms in the Cathedral and Louise Martin, our Membership Secretary is always happy to help. ( **01284 716499** or email **friends@stedscathedral.org** Those who visited the Cathedral over Easter will have seen the very inspiring and emotional Crown of Thorns suspended over the Nave Altar. This was designed and made by Dr Steve Jones, member of the Cathedral congregation and a Friend. Steve has written a very informative article about how the Crown was created in this booklet. As you will remember the Friends undertook to underwrite the purchase of The Edmund Chair to replace the existing pews. 26 Sadly, the appropriate permissions have not been granted for the removal of the pews and the commissioning of the new chairs. It is very much hoped that this will be forthcoming shortly. We went out on a limb this year and have held two highly successful “quirky” talks – Peter Bulmer from _Bulmer Bricks_ and Judge John Devaux – both very interesting and amusing! We held them in Village Halls around Suffolk and the afternoon concluded with an excellent homemade tea! We are busy planning the next one and details will follow. Our Cathedral is the Mother Church of Suffolk, and it is important that the Friends are visible across our Diocese. If you would like to suggest a quirky speaker, please let me know. I would like to thank all the members of the Council for their continuing support but a special thanks to you – The Friends. Together, we continue to beautify our Cathedral. ## **Susan Cockram Director** 27 ## **THE FRIENDS OF ST EDMUNDSBURY CATHEDRAL** ## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022** |

**Receipts**
Membership subscriptions
Donations
Gift aid
Income from events
Interest

**Payments**
Grants to Cathedral
Picture restoration
Printing and postage costs
Administration costs


**Net receipts/(payments)**
Transfers between funds
Balances - 31 December 2021
**Balances - 31 December 2022**
Income from fundraising
Expenditure on events
Expenditure in advance|**2022**
**2021**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**




5,450
5,450
4,940
21,800
1,253
23,053
2,826
774
774
1,663
13,422
13,422
12,995
1,063
1,063
39
1,992
1,992
2,035| |---|---| ||**44,501**
**1,253**
**45,754**
**24,468**| ||



50,750
-151
50,599
2,766
780
1,045
1,045
552
749
749
603
12,415
12,415
9,084
3,514
3,514| ||**68,473**
**-151**
**68,322**
**13,785**| ||



**-23,972**
**1,404**
**-22,568**
**10,683**
**139,234**
**6,986**
**146,220**
**135,537**| ||**115,262**
**8,390**
**123,652**
**146,220**| 28 ## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILTIES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2022** |


**Bank balances**
Deposit accounts
Current account



**Assets owned**
**for charity’s**
**own use**
**Other monetary**
**assets**
**Liabilities**|**2022**
**2021**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**




114,762
8,390
123,152
145,720
500
500
500| |---|---| ||**115,262**
**8,390**
**123,652**
**146,220**| ||



**Details**
**Fund**
**Nature of Item**
**Current value**


**£**
Picture
display boards
Unrestricted
1,292
Funds due from
St Edmundsbury
Cathedral
Unrestricted
Art Exhibition
4,152
Restricted
Collections for
Lady Chapel
178
Funds due to St
Edmundsbury
Cathedral
Unrestricted
Parish Teas
299
Unrestricted
Event Costs
411
Unrestricted
Administrative
Costs
139| |**Signed by**||| |---|---|---| ||**I C BROOKMAN**|**S E COCKRAM**| ||**Treasurer**|**Director**| **13 May 2023** 29 ## **TREASURER’S REPORT** **These accounts reflect the first full year of activity after the COVID-19 pandemic.** Membership income grew with several new life members. Further donations were received into the restricted fund for the Lady Chapel, the Friends current project. Also, in the year the Friends received the legacy of £21,800 mentioned in last year’s report. The Art Exhibition made a surplus of £1,480 and lending out of the display boards brought in £495. The Friends agreed to support the Chair Appeal and grants totalling £50,000 were made in the year. A grant was also paid to the Cathedral during the year for the Flower Fund of £750. The expenditure in advance represents the amounts paid to artists who sold pictures at the Art Exhibition ahead of the credit card sales receipts being received from the Cathedral, whereas in 2021 the credit card receipt was included within the year. The Friends continue to hold £75,000 as a designated fund towards a major project. These receipt and payments accounts are as presented to the independent Examiner and his report will be available by the Annual General Meeting. **Ian Brookman Treasurer** ## **The Friends’ Prayer** Almighty God, To whose glory we dedicate the work of your servants, Pour down your blessing, we beseech you, On those who labour to express our worship in beauty. May our Cathedral Church be sanctified By the prayers of your faithful people; May its holiness touch the hearts and minds Of all those who pass through its doors; May its beauty afford a glimpse of heaven So that more may join your Church as living stones. _Amen_ 31 1*1 ..i$'-"li-,-11.-':Il-;:I li il-l 'liir;