St Andrew's Church has been at the centre of West Hatch for the last 500 years, providing a peaceful haven and tranquillity for all: regular and occasional churchgoers, those who gather to celebrate Christmas, Easter or Harvest, those who attend family baptisms, weddings or funerals and family and friends who tend the grave of a loved one. But the future of our Church is in doubt. We have been without a Rector since Revd Joanna left in March. In an ideal world our advert for a new Rector would be out there, prompting a response from our prospective new Rector. But in recent years Church attendance at St Andrew's has dropped, as it has nationally, and our finances are no longer strong enough to be able to commit to a Rector's salary. This means we are not able to advertise the vacancy until we have secured an increase in the Church's regular income. Our Church does not receive any funds from National Church or the Government - most of our income, 66%, comes from individual parishioners donations, most of which are given by monthly standing order. We are asking parishioners & supporters to consider giving to St Andrew's on a regular basis, the easiest way to do this is by setting up a standing order which can be done by completing the downloadable form opposite. Alternatively, if you bank online, it is much easier and quicker to set up a standing order via your online banking screen or app using our bank details: West Hatch PCC, Sort code 40-52-40, Acc no 00015677. If you are a UK taxpayer please make your donation worth 25% more, by Gift Aiding it. You can do this by completing the Gift Aid section of the downloadable form, and return it to our Treasurer either by email or on paper (Treasurer contact details are on the form).St Andrew's is blessed with a hard working group of volunteers who do their best to look after the Church, the Churchyard, the Church field, the administration required for Church life, ensuring compliance with laws relating to marriage, burials, buildings, etc, and who help villagers as much as they can. However, our volunteers have limited time to give, and without a Rector to oversee and minister to our parish the closure of our Church is a very real threat. Imagine a closed, locked building, the graveyard no longer maintained and no longer easily accessible. No local Rector to visit the grieving, the lonely, those who are unwell at home or in hospital. Please donate if you can. Any amount, big or small, will make a difference and will mean St Andrews Church will continue to be a haven of peace for all, now and for the future.
