The Friends

2012 news

We are drawing up an exciting programme of events for 2012, which is our Diamond Jubilee year! They will be entered on the website as soon as they are finalised.

 

 2011

VISIT TO WAKEFIELD

On September 6th 2011, a small party of Friends made the trip to Wakefield and spent a most instructive day with the Wakefield Historical Society. Although it was very windy it stayed dry and we were treated to a tour through the town given by Dr Phil Judkins, followed by a talk in the Cathedral by Kate Taylor, Lay Canon and President of Wakefield Historical Society, who also showed us the inside of the Chantry Chapel on the Bridge and told us its history. The day was rounded off by a visit to the newly-opened Hepworth gallery. We are very grateful to the members of the Wakefield Historical Society for their time, generosity and hospitality and for making the day so pleasant and memorable.

The photo shows the Friends with some members of the Wakefield Historical Society on the platform of Wakefield Westgate Station, awaiting the train back to Grantham.

FriendsWakefield2

 

NEW LIGHTING

Just before Christmas 2010 The Friends of St. Wulfram's provided new lighting in the nave and chancel of our magnificent Church, with notable benefits:

>  Ample, more even, illumination for
congregations and concert audiences
>  Modern, efficient lamps with longer life
>  Computerised system with easy control
enabling special settings for particular occasions
>  Dramatic highlighting of important features
>  Lower running costs

Prior to this, the church had been poorly lit, with stained glass in most windows and lacking clerestory windows.    Having received two bequests, The Friends were able to make a huge difference to the church - at a cost of over £50,000.

The PCC has launched an appeal for funds to install similar excellent lighting in the aisles and chapels.

 

Lighting1

Work in progress. Photo © Derek Jackson

About The Friends:

  • founded in 1952
  • our main aim is the preservation and beautification of St. Wulfram's Church
  • open to all who love this magnificent building, whatever their creed
  • we have a programme of events, social and fundraising as well as lectures
  • at our annual meeting each October members decide how our funds should be spent.
  • We are a registered charity no. 1066869
  • We obtained a grant of £25,000 from the Local Heritage Initiative; with this we have installed a touchscreen in the visitor centre, and created this website with the help of numerous volunteers
  • also a grant of £5000 from Nationwide, providing an audiotour of the church for visitors
  • We publish postcards of the church, notecards and notelets; also guides to the Trigge Library, the Hatchments & Royal Arms and the Reredos.
  • Each year we publish a Christmas card.

Recent achievements:

  • the gilding of the text round the base of the nave roof, and the liming of the angels.
  • the forming of the visitor centre in the north porch including displays (with the help of grants from WREN and Welland Partnership), and royal arms
  • conservation of textiles: the red Kempe altar frontal, blue Lady chapel frontal and the "choir of angels" frontal, green and gold chasuble
  • cleaning and repair of Bishop Wand's crozier and the sanctuary lamp
  • uplighting of angels in the roof of the Lady Chapel
  • lighting of the tower vault
  • 3 series of winter lectures about aspects of the church building and its history
  • new lighting system for the nave and chancel

audio

If you would like more information,or wish to join The Friends
(minimum subscription is only £6 p.a.)

please contact
the Hon. Secretary, 93 Manthorpe Road, Grantham, NG31 8DE

Tel. 01476 562204

e-mail discoverstwulfram@btinternet.com