Membership

Annual donation £10, preferably Gift Aided by Standing Order.
Contact - Julia Cooper, 01322 863333.

Income

Everyone will be fully aware that the Friends are wholly dependent on donations and the support provided to fundraising events. The best way of making donations is by gift-aided standing order but all other options are gratefully received. The great advantage of completing a Gift Aid Declaration is that the Friends are able to claim back from the Inland Revenue 28p for every £1 donated.

To those who are already sending £10 per person per year, (or other, in some cases much more generous, donation) to be a Friend of St. Botolph's Church, Lullingstone and so help to maintain this beautiful old church, the committee wish to say THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED. Where annual donations have lapsed or Gift Aid Declarations have not been completed and there is a desire to continue to help an appropriate form can be obtained from Julia Cooper.

Events Held in 2009

The Friends of St. Botolph’s organised the following events in 2009.

On Saturday 31st January at 7.00 p.m. there was a Candlemas Concert in the church with Ian Gammie classical guitarist, and Michael Sanderson violinist and singer followed by refreshments in Stable Cottage. This proved a great success and warm thanks were due to Richard and Valerie Wells who hosted the refreshments after the concert.

On 2nd May 2009 there was a plant sale at Park Gate House. This also was a great
success, very enjoyable, and raised the sum of £821.39 for the funds of the Friends. Tony and Stephanie Chapman were warmly thanked for hosting the event. It was reported that the Friends currently held some £20,000 which could be used to help with repairs. The Friends’ Treasurer was anxious to know how much might be needed but the PCC was not yet in a position to give an indication.

The next event was a Flower Arranging Demonstration by Graham Palmer on
Tuesday 23rd June at 2.00 p.m. in the church with tea ( provided by the Friends) afterwards in Stable Cottage, once again thanks to the generosity and kindness of Richard and Valerie Wells. This event was very well received and attended by 60+ . A raffle of the arrangements was very popular. Graham’s final magnificent arrangement in white was retained in the church. A profit of £625 was made. The Committee agreed to donate £100 to the Church Flower Fund, with a further £100 to be donated at a later date.

On Friday 4th September from 10,30 to 12,30 . there was a special walk, advertised in “Trident”, round Tom Hart Dyke’s World Garden, with a 50 visitor limit. The entrance charge of £6.00 was given to the Friends.

On Friday 25th September 10.30 – 12.30 there was a Coffee Morning at ‘Wild
Acres”, Farningham Hill Road, by invitation of Vivien Gough Cooper again with a limit of 50 guests . This occasion was to launch a St Botolph’s Christmas card, from a splendid photograph of the church in the snow by Linda Cronin. Jennifer Gough Cooper organised the printing of 1000 cards, to be sold at 70p each or in packs of 5 for £3.50. The wording inside was ‘Christmas Greetings’. Much debate was held regarding the quantity to be ordered.

Two further photographs had been taken of the tapestry representations of the Church and the Gate House. It was decided to defer a decision on the further reproduction of these until later, depending on the success of the Christmas card. The total stock of the Christmas cards was quickly sold out leading to subsequent reprinting.

On Friday 27th November a Christmas Coffee Morning was held from 10.00 – 12.00
in the Olive Seal Hall. This was an opportunity to sell any surplus Christmas cards as well as involving the usual raffle and stalls selling books, unwanted gifts, etc.
‘Flowers in Memory’ it has been suggested to the Friends that individuals might like
to give money for special flowers to commemorate a loved one, on a particular Sunday with an appropriate card beside the arrangement. The first one was put in place on August 9th and a second on 20th October and it is hoped that this will become a custom at St. Botolph’s.

The Candlemas concert for 2010 had to be cancelled because of the snow but it was replaced by a special service on 7th February when worship was enriched by the playing of two violin concertos by Alan Thorogood. The collection at the service was donated to the Haiti Disaster Appeal.

Future Events

The next event in 2010 will be another plant sale at Park Gate House in May - the
actual date is still to be set.