On our September St Gabriel’s gardening morning, we planted another 200 tete a tete narcissi bulbs into our Friends’ area in readiness for the spring. We added 8 large bags of non-peat compost to improve the growing area then planted 30 cyclamen plants to give us autumn colour. The bulbs, plants and compost were donated and the labour was also freely given, so all this was achieved without touching our Friends’ account. Many thanks to all concerned.
The Autumn Coffee Morning organised by the Friends of St Gabriel’s took place on Saturday 20th September. Despite the torrential rain which lasted most of the morning, many Friends, church people and visitors from the wider community braved the downpour. It was a happy, busy morning. The refreshments counter, cakes and produce stall, raffle and card game, and the jewellery stall all made good sales. Just as important were the levels of conversation and participation. The generosity of those able to come raised a grand total of £710 by the end of Parish Breakfast the next day!
At last, the large print edition of the Revised English Hymnal for use at Evensong was published and within a week, we received the 6 copies we had ordered. They all now bear book plates celebrating their donation to St Gabriel’s from the Friends, in gratitude to God for 125 years of St Gabriel’s Church, 1899 – 2024. So Friends have been able to buy all the Evensong hymn books for congregational use comprising 15 copies of the melody edition, 10 copies of the words only edition and 6 copies of the large print edition. A generous grant reduced the total cost of all these books to £430.
The Friends offered up to £500 to improve the Children’s Corner in church, used every week by littlies during the Parish Eucharist and often during the week by visitors who are spending time enjoying the beauty and peace within our Church. Much thought is being given to this project. A starting point was considering better storage so Friends have paid for a new pine storage unit and a children’s bookcase with toy box, a total of £144.95. They look very smart.
PCC have recently agreed to proceed with a most exciting venture which could see us gain a ring of twelve bells, with appropriate soundproofing, in our magnificent tower which has only ever had one bell, probably as only one could be afforded in 1899. I thought it would be a wonderful heritage project to have one of those as a designated Friends’ bell as a permanent reminder for potentially centuries to come about how important our Friends are to us. We shall have to save up!
Anne Pickering