The Friends

FRIENDS OF LONG MELFORD CHURCH BUILDING TRUST

Charity No. 1069008

Patron: Cdr Peter Needham DSC RN

The Friends were established to help the Parochial Church Council (the PCC ) with the maintenance of the fabric of Holy Trinity Church . For as little as £10 per year, you can become a Friend and help us with our work year in and year out to preserve this ancient and magnificent church for generations to come.

History

We can look back to the 1950’s when a group, calling themselves the Friends of the Church, was formed to raise funds to repair the roof which had been very badly damaged by death watch beetle. When they had raised the necessary funds, they are said to have gone into abeyance but, over the years, we have re-appeared and have existed in many forms until 1998 when we registered as an independent Charitable Trust.

The Clopton Family Connection

John Clopton of Kentwell Hall was the principal benefactor and driving force behind the re-building of Holy Trinity Church from around 1480. He and other distinguished figures are depicted in the magnificent and unique stained glass windows

The Clopton family appeared to have died out in England by the 17^th Century but a Clopton was among the earliest settlers in Virginia , USA .  In 1984, a descendant, Mr Gene Clopton, discovered his roots and formed the Clopton Family Association which has held a reunion in Long Melford every 6^th year since then.

The Friends of Long Melford Church Building Trust are the custodians of two very generous Trusts which were set up by the late William B. Clopton of Richmond , Virginia . The first for the preservation of the ancient glass and the second for the maintenance of the fabric of the Clopton Chantry Chapel.

Achievements

Over the past decade, the Friends have raised and given the PCC an amount of £115,00. 00 to help with the maintenance of the fabric of Holy Trinity Church .

While the biggest and most significant achievement in recent years has been the completion of the Millennium (or West End ) project including a small kitchen, lavatory for elderly or disabled visitors, and an upstairs meeting room with its magnificent glass screens to reduce the cold draft from the tower, the Friends have been pleased to pay for

·       the experimental work recently carried out by the Canterbury Glass Studio at Canterbury     Cathedral to determine what should be done to restore, conserve and protect this famous collection of medieval glass.  

·       Work on the Clopton Chantry Chapel to remove the sill or step in front of the altar and to improve the heating to provide comfort in the cold winter months and to protect the ancient fabric 

·       Church Electrical maintenance and

·       Miscellaneous items for use in church

Current projects

While the restoration and protection of the medieval glass remains the main focus, the Friends hope, very soon, to proceed with the

·         building work needed to restore the North Turret or Singing Tower to its former glory.

·         the replacement of the Coronation curtains in the Lady Chapel and

·         some exciting plans to restore the ancient fabric in the Clopton Chantry Chapel.

Finding us