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As many of you will know, St Andrew's church is the onlyTarvin building listed as being grade I in historical or special architectural interest by the Department of the Environment. The Parish Room (the former Tarvin Grammar School) is listed Grade II as are several of the tombstones in the churchyard. It is essential that we fulfil our role as stewards of this fine inheritance and carry our all necessary maintenance to ensure its survival for future generations.
One role of the Friends is to raise funding for such work but this in itself can be a sterile activity if not linked with some other purpose. Perhaps our main function is to help create and expand our community, not restricting ourselves to our own Anglican congregation but reaching out, not only to the other Christian denominations in the village but also to those of other faiths and to those of no faith at all. The common link we seek to forge is based on the love and respect for old buildings and we can all be proud of our Tarvin inheritance.
However we should be looking beyond the mere conservation of the church and its associated buildings and see where we can make use of these to reinforce the broader Tarvin community. Already we are holding concerts in the church and it is important to find other such uses for the building outside of its prime function as a place of worship. One could envisage plays, poetry readings and lectures on appropriate secular topics, perhaps of a social historical nature.
The Parish Room lends itself to a supporting role in such events, making a suitable venue for the provision of refreshments but it also offers other opportunities of community involvement. One such example is the suggestion for teas for villagers and tourists on summer Sunday afternoons, provided on a rota basis by village organisations co-ordinated by the Friends.
We are looking to recruit more Friends and would invite anyone interested in our buildings to join us and help either financially or providing help in other ways. These could include joining a rota of "Church Sitters" who would allow the church to be kept open at weekends and Bank Holidays, thus making it more accessible to both villagers and tourists. |
Photos courtesy of Craig Thornber
Anyone interested in helping or with suggestions for suitable activities should contact Harry Wilson (henjanwilson@aol.com or mobile 0782 176 4048) or David Herbert (tarvinparish@gmail.com) Remember that the Friends is a secular group, open to members of all faiths as well as those with no religious beliefs. We hope to hear from you !!!
Harry Wilson |
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