Information about the Friends of Hollingbourne’s Historic Church

Why does Hollingbourne Church need friends?

Such a large and ancient building inevitably needs overhauling at least once in a generation.  Now it is our turn to help pay for repairs from time to time.

In past years these expenses would have been borne by the Church of England through its central funds and local congregational giving.  Declining congregations and increased pensions liabilities have eroded the ability of the church to maintain thousands of historic buildings.

While recognising that this church is a living building and not a dead monument, the voluntary work of The Friends is separate from the activities of the worshipping community who attend services in the church.

Apart from minimal running costs, all funds raised by The Friends will be devoted to the care and maintenance of All Saints Church, Hollingbourne.

The village of Hollingbourne lies near a permanent spring at the foot of the South Downs.  The history of the area stretches back to the stone age but the first mention of a community is in the 11^th Century Domesday Book.  A church would have stood on the present site before the Norman Conquest, but the present church of All Saints mainly dates from the late fourteenth century after an earthquake  demolished much of the earlier structure. 

Down the centuries the church’s parish register has recorded the births and marriages and its six bells have tolled the passing of many thousands of ordinary village folk, while the fabric of the church has been extended and embellished by the wealthy and powerful local families of the past – Culpepers, Duppas and Thomases. 

The Friends

of

Hollingbourne’s

Historic

Church

Maidstone

KENT

“It is through the churches of England

that we learn who we were and thus

who we are and might become.

Lose that learning

and we lose the collective memory

that is the essence of human society. ”

Simon Jenkins

The Friends of Hollingbourne’s Historic Church was formally established on 21^st May 2003 at a public meeting held in the church.  The Friends is a charitable association with the sole purpose of conserving and protecting our historic church building and its churchyard for future generations.

If you have any link with the village of Hollingbourne and care about the continuing existence of this historic church building, please join us by filling in the Bankers Order form on the inside of this leaflet.  You can make payments annually, quarterly or monthly.

If you are a UK taxpayer please complete a Gift Aid Declaration so that the Friends can recover 28p for every pound donated. 

The minimum annual donation is £10 (less than 20 pence a week) but we hope that many will feel able to make more substantial contributions.

Members will be entitled to attend the annual general meeting and to elect the officers of the association.  Occasio nal fundraising events are held and a newsletter is issued from time to time to report progress.

Banker’s Order

Please complete this form and send it to the Friends

at the address overleaf.  We will record the details and pass it on to your bank.

To The Manager

Name of your bank ………………………………………….

Sort Code:

Address of your bank

………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………….

…………………… Post code ………………………………..

Please pay the sum of £ …………………….………………

per month*/quarter*/year* from my account

Account Name …………….…………………………………..

Account No ……………………………………………………

to CAF Bank PLC, King’s Hill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4TA, Sort code 40-52-40

for the account of  The Friends of Hollingbourne’s Historic Church (A/c 00011030)  

commencing on ………………………… until further notice

Name …………………………..…………………….………..

Address ……………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………….

…………………………..  Post Code ………………………..

Signed ………..….……………..  Date ….……………

*delete as necessary

 Registered Charity Number 1099283