The Friends of St Mary & St Peter’s Church, Kelsale has been established to support the restoration, preservation and maintenance of this historic church building, Lych Gate and churchyard for the community for future generations.

“The Friends are established to assist in the restoration and maintenance of the fabric, contents, and churchyard of St Mary & St Peter’s Church, Kelsale cum Carlton, and to preserve and protect it as a place of Christian Worship”.

You can read our open letter that we delivered to residents of Kelsale cum Carlton here.

For more information contact the Churchwardens here.

Become a friend of St Mary & St Peter’s and help us to preserve one of the county's finest churches for the benefit of future generations. St Mary & St Peter’s is a landmark in our parish. It has served the community since at least the 12th Century and maybe earlier, providing shelter, education, and religious and social care; a place in which to worship, and to mark personal milestones such as baptisms, weddings and funerals.

The large churchyard is also an important part of our community, serving as a final resting place for many generations and of all denominations, and is still serving in this way.

St Mary & St Peter’s is a place to enjoy, and the church and churchyard are in the centre of the Kelsale cum Carlton designated Conservation Area. It is situated in the heart of the village at the highest point in a tranquil churchyard, which serves as a haven for wildlife and wildflowers, and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest: it holds a very special place in the community.

The cost of conserving and maintaining the Grade I listed St Mary & St Peter’s church building and artefacts, the Grade II* listed Lych Gate, and the churchyard rests solely upon the congregation’s weekly contributions, fundraising events, and the generosity of others. Unfortunately the costs outstrip income. Your contribution would help to ensure the continuation of St Mary & St Peter’s now and for future generations. To let such an historic building fall into disrepair and decay would be an irredeemable loss to the heritage and identity of this community.

Thank you for your support.

Become a Friend of St Mary & St Peter’s Church, Kelsale by making a financial contribution. It is up to you to decide how much you give although the minimum suggested donation is £15.00 per person. You can set up a standing order or make a one-off donation. However you choose to give, a Gift Aid declaration will increase the value of your subscription by 25% at no extra cost to you.

Your contribution will be gratefully acknowledged. You will receive invitations to certain church events.

Download the application form here.

If you prefer to help in practical ways, St Mary & St Peter’s Church needs you as a friend too.

Tidying up the churchyard

We would like to organise two major working days a year, when we can strim round the gravestones, edge the paths and cut back the undergrowth, and dispose of grass-cuttings. The first one we hope to undertake in July once all the wild flowers and grasses have seeded, and the second one just before winter sets in – in November. To have this work undertaken commercially would cost in the region of £5,000 per annum for the two cuts. The churchyard belongs to all the parish and extra help means more could be done and need not be restricted to these two days.

In addition the cost of the number of trees in the churchyard that require pollarding on a regular basis is increasing year on year – this is essential work that has to be undertaken. The lime trees for pollarding number over 60, and in addition there are numerous yew trees that also regularly require some pruning.

Repairs, Decorating and Painting

Occasionally we need to do simple decorating, and repairs.

Flowers

We try to keep flowers in the church throughout most of the year (apart from during Advent and Lent), and particularly for the major religious festivals. In addition we hold an annual flower festival usually at the end of May and are always looking for contributors for that event. Perhaps there is a special anniversary for a person or event you would like to commemorate with a contribution towards some flowers in church.

Cleaning

We have two small bi-monthly cleaning teams for dusting and sweeping, and additional help would be appreciated to undertake this task more frequently. We would also like to undertake a major spring clean with polishing once a year.

Church Locking, Clock Winding

Church locking and clock winding are undertaken by locals. It will be much appreciated if you can help.

If you have any other ideas on how you would like to help St Mary & St Peter’s we would very much like to hear from you.

As part of an overall plan to broaden the building’s use for musical events, concerts, plays, etc; as well as for worship, we are in the process of improving its facilities by installing a toilet and kitchenette facilities. This will include some update of lighting and heating.

On a more prosaic level the roof needs replacing as well as the internal wood-block flooring. Also the inside walls need redecorating, and windows are in need of cleaning and repair. Lighting and heating are a concern throughout the building.

All these things cost money and whilst at the moment the Parochial Church Council, through regular giving, is able to pay for the services of our Priest-in-Charge, we cannot also continue to maintain this historic Grade I building and develop its potential for wider use without additional help.

Membership is a good way for people who have left Kelsale to keep in touch with developments at St Mary & St Peter’s. We hope to produce a half-yearly newsletter and an invitation to the AGM, at which we hope to feature a good tea, and an interesting talk, as well as the formal agenda. The membership fees can be paid by cheque, standing order or BACS, with gift aid for UK taxpayers. Join us now to help maintain this beautiful building and its presence in our village.