Friends of St Andrew's, Langford

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Welcome

The Friends of St Andrew's is a fundraising group set up to support the work of St Andrew's Church, Langford: please read on to find out who we are, what we do and how you can get involved; and see our News page to find out what we've been doing...

Your Church, Your Community

ST ANDREW’S is the parish church of the historic village of Langford, Bedfordshire. Dating from at least the 14th Century, the current building has stood at the heart of the community for longer than anyone can remember, providing a sacred space for everyone to enjoy: a place where life’s beginnings, joinings and endings can be celebrated or commemorated in baptisms, weddings and funerals...

But buildings are no more immune to the ravages of time than people and whilst St Andrew’s is part of the Church of England, part of the established church, this doesn’t mean that the state pays for its upkeep: it doesn’t. On the contrary, because the church is so old, it’s a listed building, which places certain obligations upon the church where maintenance is concerned, but the church must pay its own way.

By and large the church has been successful in doing this, with the ad-hoc help of the local community through such events as a well-supported annual Gift Day and a Summer Fête. In recent years, however, it’s become clear that running costs are exceeding income levels, an unsustainable situation. The main cause of this is a static and ageing congregation, a situation which appears unlikely to change in the immediate future. Whilst members of the congregation are being encouraged to review their own giving, it’s also clear that for the church to continue serving the local community, it needs more support from that community.

We would therefore like to invite you to become a Friend of St Andrew’s: to formally adopt St Andrew’s as your village church. Whether that’s as a current or former member of the Langford community, as a neighbour, concerned individual or as another community group or local business, we invite your support so that we, in turn, can continue to support you and future generations when you need us.

Counting the Cost in 2010

Weekly Running Costs

• £295 on our share of clergy, stipend, housing and training and support costs
• £132 on our building, including insurance, heat, light etc
• £58 on worship and ministry costs to and in the community

Total Weekly Costs: £485

Weekly Income

• £263 from regular giving
• £40 from Inland Revenue from Gift Aided donations and giving
• £47 from fees
• £41 from fundraising

Total Weekly Income: £391

Shortfall

• Weekly Shortfall: £94
• Annual Shortfall: £4,888

Organ Repairs

Alongside this ongoing deficit in the church’s normal running costs, we are currently faced by the need for major repairs to the organ, estimated at £30,000, towards which – as at the autumn of 2010 – we have now raised just under £10,000.

What’s Involved?

As much or as little as you choose!

Becoming a Friend of St Andrew’s doesn’t involve attending services or taking part in any other church activities – unless, of course, you want to, in which case you can always be sure of a warm welcome!

By becoming a Friend of St Andrew’s you are simply supporting the work of the church in the local community, whether that’s through visiting people who are ill, running confirmation classes, taking school assemblies, comforting bereaved families, celebrating new life in baptisms, preaching sermons, celebrating the Eucharist, weddings, providing services through the seasons at Christmas, Easter, Harvest and All Souls, or in the many other ways we aim to show the love of Christ to each and every person through our care, comfort and compassion.

Thank you for your support!

How to Join

To join the Friend of St Andrew’s, please download our flyer (pdf, 291kb), print it out, complete the membership form and return it, either to the Vicarage or to the Church when it's open (please note that the Church does not have a letter box: when it's closed, correspondence should be delivered to the Vicarage)

• The Vicarage, 65 Church Street, Langford, Bedfordshire SG18 9QT

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Looking Back: Previous Events & Activities
(most recent first)

• Where the Working Boats Went: An evening of music and drama with Life and Times (Sat 19th May 2012)
• Newsletter, Nov 2011 (issued Mon 14th Nov 2011)
• Jazz on an Autumn Evening (Sat 1st Oct 2011)
• Quiz, Raffle and Fish & Chip Supper (Sat 14th May 2011)

St Mary's

St Andrew's