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Friends of Chulmleigh Parish Church

The object of the Friends is to promote and provide financial assistance for the repair, maintenance, improvement and ornamentation of the fabric of The Church of St Mary Magdalene for the benefit of the whole Community.

This fine, stone-built Church with its slate roof and 86ft tower, dominates the Town (Charter granted by Henry 111 dated 1253) and is a clear reminder of the prosperous days of the late medieval woollen industry in the area which probably enabled its foundation somewhere between 1300 and 1400 AD.

Set in the heart of the rural and agricultural countryside of Mid Devon, Chulmleigh has been affected by the changing fortunes and upheavals that have influenced farming through the Centuries. Originally an important staging post on the old hilltop road from Exeter to Barnstaple, it was bypassed in the 19th century by the construction of a new road and the railway in the valley beneath the Town. The Church is surrounded by a large and well maintained graveyard (now closed for burials) the western end of which has, at one time, been considered a Community Wildlife Garden. Across the road on the south side is another large Churchyard, currently in use, which occupies a sloping site with beautiful views down into the valley of The Little Dart River and to Dartmoor in the distance.

The cost of maintaining this wonderful, historic building rises by the year and can safely be expected to continue to do so. Since founding in 2004 The Friends have raised over £32,000 – with the exception of a running reserve of £2,000 to cover emergencies, all of this has been or will be spent on the building. The last set of repair recommendations by the Diocesan Architect in 2009 totalled £24,000 at 2009 prices. To date our funds have enabled us to offer the PCC £7000 towards this and the Phase 1 work has now been completed – July 2011.We do not anticipate being able to afford to commission all of the remainder of this work before the next inspection is due in 2013 although we shall make further inroads.

We urgently need to find new members or to identify people willing to make a one off donation to our cause. Were you Baptised, Confirmed, Married here, have ancestors buried here or perhaps have other connections with the Town or its Church? Maybe you just appreciate the beauty and history of the Church and wish to see it maintained and improved.

Trustees, Officers and Contacts 2011/12

- Ian Jury Chairman 01769 580222, White Hart , Leigh Road, Chulmleigh EX18 7BL. Email ijury@btinternet.com

- Alan Trenaman Treasurer 01769 580356,Colleton Mill House, Umberleigh, EX37 9ET

- Roena Wraighte Secretary 01769 581114, 42 Kings Park, Chulmleigh, EX18 7DJ

- Stuart Drew,

- Chrissie Preece,

- Ed Phillips,

- Audrey Ross PCC Representative,

- Rev. Roderick Withnell Ex Officio,

Any of the above would be happy to answer any questions you may have about the work of The Friends

Please consider supporting our work either by:

BECOMING A MEMBER - paying your subscription either by cheque/cash annually or by Standing Order. Click on the Becoming a Member link to download the Gift Aid form which enables us to reclaim tax on your subscription at no extra cost to you if you are a UK taxpayer OR.

MAKING A ONE OFF DONATION again the Gift aid form can be used.

In either case cheques should be made payable to Friends of Chulmleigh Parish Church and sent to the Treasurer – Alan Trenaman, Colleton Mill House, Umberleigh , Devon , EX37 9ET

ADDING A CODICIL TO YOUR WILL leaving a lump sum to The Friends. A form to facilitate this is available, click on the Adding a Codicil to your will, which should be completed, signed and sent to your Solicitor.

You can be assured that your contribution will be used entirely for the benefit of the Church - all our Trustees are unpaid Volunteers and overheads are absolutely minimal.

Minutes of Meetings

LAST AGM MINUTES

LAST COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 2011

Accounts

2010/2011 ACCOUNTS

Project Contributions to Date

- South Porch

- Window repairs

- Clock Automation and regilding

- Pinnacles and weathervanes

- Quinquennial Inspection Phase 1

- Annual expenses covered by The Friends include an Honorarium to the Clock Custodian, Maintenance of our own Web site and the essential twice yearly inspection of the roof and clearance of gutters.

One Off Donations and Grants Received 2010/11

- We acknowledge the following with gratitude

- Grant from The Garfield Weston Foundation of £1,000

- Funeral collection Ivor Marsh

- Funeral collection John Hosker

Both of these gentlemen were founder Trustees of The Friends and their efforts were instrumental in getting the organisation up and running, their contributions over the last 7 years are much appreciated and will be greatly missed.