Introduction
“The Friends” were established in 2008 to raise funds for church projects. Since then we have made grants towards the conservation/restoration of the stained glass (£6,000) replacement of the drain (£5,000) and improvement to the churchyard (£5,000). We have made a grant of £5500 towards the project for a replacement floor and have also funded a number of other small projects. We do not fund recurrent expenditure such as the annual payment to the diocese (Parish Share), electricity, insurance or minor repairs.
Fundraising
“The Friends” normally arrange two or three fundraising events each year, the major one being the pre-Christmas coffee morning with tombola in November.
Membership
People become “Friends” because
*they see the church as theirs – even if they seldom (or never!) attend services
*they want to help preserve the church in their village because it is an historic building nearly 700 years old.
The annual subscription is £10 and is due in April. It can be paid by cash or cheque made out to The Friends of St John’s Fifield. Anyone wishing to become a member should post a message on the Village WhatsApp for details of whom to contact. “The Friends” are usually managed by a Committee, of which the Vicar is President ex officio. However following the AGM on 8th April it was agreed that its administration should temporarily be on a less formal basis, though the Vicar will remain the contact with the PCC
Upcoming events
Annual Coffee Morning with Tombola to be held in the Village Hall on Saturday 14th November
Gospel Bells Singers – January 2027
Any other events planned for 2026/27 will be announced as information becomes available
Past Events
Annual Coffee Morning with Tombola – 8th November 2025
Once again this event proved very popular and raised, after expenses, just over £700. The Friends are very grateul to all who supported it, in many different ways.
Annual General Meeting Wednesday 26th March 2025 17.30 in the Parish Hall
BURNS NIGHT SUPPER Saturday 16th January 2025
LUCKY DIP – SATURDAY 7th DECEMBER 2024 – Lucky Dip with Coffee and Cake
PRE-CHRISTMAS COFFEE MORNING – SATURDAY 23rd November 2024
A huge “thank you” to all who joined us – both from within the village and elsewhere. As in previous years the Tombola was a particular attraction enabling us to raise £621 on the day and, as we had many generous gifts left over, we were able to have another fundraising morning in December. This took the form of a Coffee Morning with free Lucky Dip. Congratulations and thanks to the team who worked so hard to make these events so successful not only in financial terms but also as village social events – opportunities for us all to catch up with each other and share each other’s news. The Hall hummed with chatter!
John Yaxley
SUMMER BARBECUE 2023
Committee Members scanned the weather forecast hourly! Will it, won’t it stay fine? What do we do it if rains? The answer to that was “Dive for cover or go get an umbrella” – but the showers, though sharp, were pretty short and did nothing to dampen the spirits of those attending. The “barbie” went ahead (the food was delicious) and our toes were kept tapping to the music provided by the three-man band “Broken Mic”. Many thanks to all who gave the event their support, in whatever way, and helped to make the event a resounding success.
The barbecue’s nearly ready
‘Broken Mic’ provided some jolly music and kept us entertained (right)
On the gate
