Friends of St Nicholas

St Nicholas Church, Alcester

This fine Parish Church, situated at the heart of the town, is important to the community in a number of ways. As well as being used for regular services and 'milestone' events in townspeople's lives including baptisms, marriages and funerals, it has a wider use for a variety of civic events, concerts and performances.

The church is historically important to the town and attracts many visitors to see its treasures such as the nationally important painted Benefaction Board (1632) and the Fulke Greville alabaster tomb (c 1600). The tower, with the clock uniquely placed on the corner, was built 700 years ago and the rest of the church remodelled in the 1730s.

In the past, repair and maintenance of the building and contents have been funded mainly by members of the church community. We are now appealing to the wider community to help future funding of this historic place, which is listed as Grade II* by English Heritage.

The Friends of St Nicholas has been established to: -

1  Maintain our priceless heritage in terms of the building and its contents by the creation of a sufficiently large St Nicholas Church Heritage Fund producing an amount of investment income to fund repairs and maintenance into the future.

2  Arrange events for the whole community, which will also raise funds towards the running and maintenance of the church.

The Friends operates as a sub-committee of the St Nicholas Parochial Church Council (PCC) which is a registered charity under the rules of the Charity Commission for England and Wales registration number 1164101. The PCC are legally responsible for the church and will also support the work of the Friends.

Who are the Friends?

Anybody can become a Friend; you don't have to attend the church, you just need to be interested in its preservation and want to help. Also, we wish to encourage all other sections of the community including businesses, organisations and charities to support the work of the Friends.

There are a number of ways in which an individual or a couple can join the Friends: -

•  By making an annual gift to the Friends of £15 (or more).

•  Or by making a monthly donation by Standing Order.

•  Or by making a single donation of £150 for Life Membership.

•  Or by making a substantive donation at any time.

•  Or by leaving a legacy in your will to the benefit of the Church through the Friends.

In whatever way you choose to help us financially to achieve our aims please make your donations to: -

Name of account: Friends Of St. Nicholas

Bank Sort Code: 30-99-50

Account number: 13529263

Or send/deliver a cheque to:

The Church Office, Church House, 17 Butter Street, Alcester, B49 5AL.

Or give it to a church warden or member of the clergy team.

Future Projects Requiring Funds

•  Urgent maintenance of the church tower.

•  Replacement of the organ and the church sound system.

•  Improving the internal space of the church to facilitate wider use by the community.

• Installation of Solar panels to help the environment and reduce energy costs.

Should you have any questions concerning support for the Friends please do not hesitate to contact me, David Moulson MBE (Chair) at dmoulson@hotmail.com or tel. 07530 900237