The Friends of St James the Great, Thorley
Report by the Secretary to the Annual Parochial Church Meeting, 15 March 2001
The Friends of St James assist the Rector and Parochial Church Council in maintaining and beautifying the Church and Churchyard. The provision of Sunday afternoon teas during the summer months, the Festival of Flowers and Music over the August Bank Holiday Weekend and the Quiz Evening in November were once again our key social and fundraising events during 2000. In addition to the many popular attractions of recent years at the Festival, a local wood-turner joined us for all three days and created much interest. The Quiz Evening was the first to be hosted by John Loadman and the Committee is grateful to him for taking over this long running series of events from Peter Cottee.
The Committee is indebted to Max Streets and his small team of supporters for once again ensuring the orderly appearance of the Churchyard throughout the year. We urgently need more volunteers to lighten the load. If you can help at the monthly sessions in any way please let Max or any of the members of the Committee know.
Following on from the notecards with illustrations of St James and other Bishop’s Stortford landmarks that were included in the range of Friends’ souvenirs during 1999, a new line of Millennium pens has been launched. The Friends now have an extensive range of souvenirs that are offered for sale during Sunday afternoon teas and at the Festival of Flowers and Music.
The total money raised during the year enabled us to commit an additional £7,000 towards the restoration of Tower. This brings the total committed by the Friends to the Parochial Church Council for this important project to £25,000.
During the year much material has been added to the Friends’ Web site. Those of you with Internet access will find our site at www.friends.stjames.btinternet.co.uk. The section on the stained glass windows in the Church has been updated to include colour photographs. Other additions include an album of photographs taken during the 2000 Festival of Flowers and Music and a section entitled ‘From the Thorley Archives’. Take a look; you will find much more.
If you are not already a member, why not join the Friends? The minimum family subscription is only £5.00. By joining you will be directly helping to preserve our ancient and beautiful Church building. You can even request a membership pack on line.