The Friends have very recently funded repairs and redecoration to the West Wall of the Nave. This has involved a substantial area of replastering with the whole of this wall receiving several coats of lime-wash. The wall had been disfigured and stained by historic rain ingress. The scaffolding was removed in late July and although the wall is not perfect, its appearance is much improved. The Friends made a grant exceeding £6000 to the PCC to cover the entire cost. Payments have also be made this year for repairs to the chancel steps and floor tiles in the nave.
Over the previous financial year The Friends have funded the cleaning of seven stained glass windows – bearing the total cost of £3540. Grants were also made in 2024 for various repairs to guttering and downpipes as well as lime mortar re-pointing along the lower half of the southern elevation.
Total Grants to the PCC in 2024 amounted to £9188 and in 2023 £8716. Going back to 2022 there were extensive restoration and repairs undertaken to the North Aisle and North Transept Roof which included substantial work to the Clergy Vestry Chimney. In that year grants totalling nearly £30,000 were transferred to the PCC.
The current Quinquennial Report (October 2023) provides plenty of suggestions for future consideration. This is likely to include funding some repairs to the Southern Churchyard Wall.
I am delighted to say that we have just topped up our complement of trustees – now nine in total. The two new trustees are Stephen Law and David Maidman.
As we approach the 775th commemoration of the canonisation of St. Margaret the Queen, a subcommittee of The Friends are putting together an exhibition celebrating the extensive history of St. Margaret the Queen, Buxted and her immediate surroundings. This will be the starting point for further presentations and hopefully a book a year or two away. Research being undertaken and this entire project is being led by Stephen Law who has a particular interest in our local history and a thorough appreciation of what is involved. There has been no shortage of stories, documents, drawings and photographs to draw down on – including several finds and revelations that were not expected! Of course, we would be extremely grateful for any further anecdotes, memories and artefacts. We will certainly be persuading those attending the exhibition to become a ‘Friend’ by letting us have a modest annual payment.