THE FUTURE OF ST ANDREWS CHURCH EXTON
Dear Friends,
As you are probably aware, the future of our village church is currently at a crossroads, and two open meetings have taken place at the church recently to discuss the way forward.
As things stand, there is an annual financial shortfall in the church budget of around £4000 pa, not including costs of building repairs or maintenance, although the buildings themselves are currently in a good state of repair. Thanks to various legacies and one-off donations the church can secure its finances for the next 18 to 24 months, but thereafter, if a solution is not found, the church will be forced to close at Christmas 2027.
Many of us, possibly yourselves included – although not regular churchgoers – feel that this is not the best option for the village. St Andrews in its various forms has been a place of comfort, celebration, and worship in this village for over one hundred and fifty years – its walls have witnessed moments of both joy and sorrow. Although we are a relatively small village, you may feel as we do that our community should still retain a spiritual centre.
However, this is not a matter simply of finance. The church also needs to grow its congregation. If you wish to start attending church, services are held weekly on Wednesday mornings at 10:30 am and from May on the 2nd Sunday of the month at 6pm. Attendances at the current Wednesday morning services are very low and this is not sustainable in the long term.
So, what are the options going forward? If the congregation can be grown – even by relatively small numbers, regular giving would increase and the diocese would be more likely to recognise the need to keep the church open. Villagers who wish to explore the Christian Faith are encouraged to approach the Vicar and consider attending services at St Andrews.
Costs could be reduced if we can find local volunteers who are prepared to help with maintenance of the grounds and cleaning of the church on a regular basis. Both activities are currently a drain on the church’s scarce resources.
An increase in regular donations and one-off giving would also clearly improve the church finances. If you feel that the church should continue to play a role in village life – even if you are not a regular attendee – the church would be most grateful for any financial contributions however small.
The church itself is also a potentially versatile and flexible space which is currently under- used. Plans are already being discussed to establish a pop-up cafe for several mornings a week to serve drinks, cakes and refreshments, providing a community hub for villagers to meet up and to serve users of the cycle path. Other possibilities for community use include exhibition space, a community shop, meeting/performance venue and even hotdesking office space. These activities could be overseen or managed by forming a ‘Friends of St Andrews Group’.
If you believe that we should work to keep St Andrews Church alive, please complete the questionnaire below and return it to The Reverend Lewis Eden, Vicar of the White Cross Mission Community, The Vicarage, Greenway, Woodbury, EX5 1LU or
RevLewisEden@outlook.com, 07777 597722
ST ANDREWS CHURCH QUESTIONNAIRE;
- Do you believe that we should try to keep St Andrews Church open? YES/NO
- Would you be willing to help achieve this goal? YES/NO
- In what capacity would you be able to contribute? As a member of the congregation. YES/NO
- By providing financial support. YES/NO
- By volunteering to help with Cleaning/mowing etc. YES/NO
- By helping with a pop-up cafe/ shop. YES/NO
- By becoming a Friend of St Andrews Church. YES/NO
- Any other capacity (please state)
If you would like to help, please leave your contact details below Name
Telephone
Alternatively, you can fill this form out online using this link:
https://forms.gle/TzEZuS8pMSJUjSqe8
Or using the QR code on the letter above.
Church Services: There is a weekly service of Holy Communion at 10.30am on Wednesdays followed by coffee and a chat.
From May there will be an evening service at 6pm on the second Sunday of every month.
For donations to St Andrews Church, Exton; Name of Account; PCC Woodbury Parish Sort code 30-93-14 ACC No 00436340
Please put EXTON as the reference so your gift can be allocated correctly