Tag: friends of st cyrs

Friends of St Cyr AGM 2021

What are “The Friends”?

It would seem to me that anyone moving into the Village would hear “The Friends of St Cyr” would think that it’s some sort of secret sect or an order of medieval knights building a pyramid under the foundations of the church.! Perhaps it’s a small clique of gymslip teenagers.

Actually the Friends of St Cyr is neither of those. It’s just a group that started out in 2006 to raise money for the Fabric of the church. Half the “Friends” are not regular church goers, they just want to see our church buildings preserved and looked after.

However, like many societies which start out with one single mission, the “Friends” has evolved over the years and partly because of it’s fundraising needs also does much to bring the village together both in spirit and a corporeal way.

Time will eventuate

The Friends has now been in existence for 15 years and time will eventuate that new “Friends” are needed to step up as old “Friends” step back. So, are you able to answer yes to any of these questions?

Able to bring any expertise to the group?
Want our village to keep our church?
Able to give time for the village?
Want to help keep the village together socially?
Able to work on small committees?

The AGM

This years AGM is on Tuesday 23rd March and anyone is invited to join. Especially if you would like to join the committee. If you are, please feel free to contact our Chairman Russell Legg or Secretary Jill Holloway.

Open To All Logo

Open to All

A project undertaken by the Friends of St Cyrs

I can’t believe it was three years ago that we considered creating a disabled access to our village church. How time flies? St Cyr’s suffers from being sited in an elevated position that requires. This requires steps to enter the churchyard, and yet more steps to enter the interior of the church. In consultation with representatives from the Diocese plans were drawn up and models made to illustrate a feasible solution.

We have come a long way since then. We reduced costs and refined the design. Now have a practical and attractive solution to the need.

We have used the time well by enjoying ourselves and raising money. To contribute to the cost of realising our dream. Thanks to all those people who have joined us at barn dances, safari suppers, open gardens and many more activities. We now have sufficient funds to move to the next stage.

We now have planning permission, that involves Historic England and have Building Control and a Faculty from the DAC.

Also, we now have secured quotes for the groundwork, electrics, plumbing, carpentry, ironwork, lifts, joinery. We want to try to employ local contractors wherever possible. Therefore most of the prices we have received have been from such people.

Then will have a definitive costing of the Project within the next few weeks. We will then advise everyone what funds we are seeking to raise to complete the work. Also, how we intend to raise those funds

At present The Friends of St Cyr’s are applying for grants to match our finances.

Thank you to all those generous villagers and friends for helping to make this ‘Open to All’ initiative possible.

If you would like to know more about the project, please do contact one of the ‘Friends of St Cyrs’

Churchyard Cleanup

We are having a churchyard clear-up and church vacuum and dusting on Saturday 28th March starting at 9.30 am.

Unqualified Success

The Stinchcombe Safari Supper was held last night and Storm Dennis held off just enough for the night to be a unconditional and unqualified success!

Despite being held on Saint Valentine’s Night, who we all know is the patron Saint of Epilepsy. Around 90 people crowded into the aisles of Saint Cyrs for starters and puds with the mains being served by hosts scattered throughout the village.

My wife served a recipe that was used for the W.I. Safari Supper in Wanborough, (near Swindon) some 30 / 35 years ago! I guess if it was good enough then it was good enough now!

The Chairman of The Friends of St Cys, Russell Legg, gave a good welcome speech explaining the main reason for the evening event as being part of the fundraising for the “Open 4 All” project for the church to provide disabled access, toilet and kitchen towards which the friends have already promised £10,000 towards.

I must say, that the last night event showed just what “Village Event” can be like with everyone mixing and talking and enjoying themselves and those that did not come or support at all this or other “Village Event” do miss out on why we live in a small community.

Friends of St Cyr AGM

The 14th Annual General Meeting of the Friends of St Cyr will take place on Wednesday 19th January 2020 at 7.30 pm in the Church. All are welcome. This is a chance for you to meet the committee and hear about our progress and plans for the coming year for the maintenance and improvement of our beautiful Church.

Any nominations for the committee should be sent in writing with a proposer, a seconder and the permission of the nominee, to reach the secretary by Wednesday 5th February 2020 If you would like a copy of last year’s minutes please contact me preferably by e-mail at jillandruss@talktalk.net .

If you cannot do this call me on 01453 542159 and I will post or deliver a copy to you. Obviously we can keep our costs down if we contact as many people as possible by e-mail!

We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible
Jill Holloway (Secretary)