Fr. Alan's address about Fordingbridge parish finances: 25th June
The Finance Committee and I have agreed that I should speak about money. First, however, I want to put it into context and say this: I recognise that many of you will have financial commitments in the form of family or mortgages and other things. Others will be living on limited income. But this is still an appeal to all of you.
The Law requires the Diocese to keep its properties in good order. Two years ago, we repaired the roof. The House has been decorated internally. The Parish raised significant funds for this. Some parishioners contributed labour, to keep expenses down. They deserve special thanks and appreciation.
Recently, we have identified a number of works that still need to be done. Health and safety regulations require us to supply additional steps to the Parish House front door and to the Sanctuary inside the Church. Both of these at present fail to comply with current building regulations. Prudence and liturgical propriety ask that we modify the steps on which the altar stands. We are also non-compliant in the absence of emergency exit signs.
The Lath and Plaster ceiling of the Church has acquired cracks which, though most are not urgent, will need attention. In time the Church interior will need painting. The exterior will require redecoration soon.
Outside, the boundary wall with the road has partly collapsed. We have to decide what to do. A hedge would be the cheapest option, a new wall, with proper foundations, the most expensive.
I don't need to remind anyone how much costs for heating and other services have risen. They are set to rise further. Our heating system is inefficient and costly. Replacement would be costly too.
You can see that the calls on our finances are likely to be considerable. We shall have to raise funds. May I ask you please, to give some serious thought to this, perhaps along these lines.
First, review the amount you give to the Parish each week and, bearing in mind what I said at the outset, consider increasing it if you can. Weekly regular collections last year totalled £19,600. We need to increase that, at least by the rate of inflation and preferably more than that.
Second, if you pay income tax, please make sure that you gift aid your contribution. At no extra cost to you, the Church gets, for each pound you give, 28 pence in addition from HMG. This is significant.
Third, give by standing order rather than into the plate. This will make income more stable and administration simpler. These are things you can all do, within the constraints you all have, of course.
In conclusion, I'd like to mention two more things, which might appeal to some of you to sponsor or fundraise specifically for.
First comes the pipe organ. The ceiling is falling in above it. In order to replace the ceiling the organ will have to be removed. It is an instrument of no great merit and parts of it do not work. Paul Inwood, the Diocese's organ advisor, has assessed it and I have put up a copy of his report in the porch. We cannot afford the £25,000 needed to restore and replace it.
Paul advises us that £5,000 would purchase a good electronic instrument. That in itself is a lot of money, but if two or three people with the means would be able and willing to sponsor it, it is within reach.
Second come the figures for the Christmas Crib. They are of poor quality and too small. Some are damaged beyond repair. Lots of people come here at Christmas, many visitors included. How good it would be if the first thing we saw on coming in was a crib that really looked beautiful. If that appealed to the imagination of a group of you with the resources, or as a fundraising project, we'd be well on the way to having one.
People often give things to churches in memory of someone. Perhaps for projects such as the organ and the crib, you'd like to think of doing something like this.
So that's it. Our finances have been excellently administered over the last years and I am confident this will continue. But we have to increase our overall income to keep pace with the calls made on it. Please think carefully about what I have said.
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