A huge thank you to everyone who joined us during September for our Heritage Open Days exhibitions and Hidden History lunchtime talks at St Nicholas Church.
It was wonderful to welcome so many people into the church to explore its history, its monuments, its stained glass and some of the extraordinary people whose stories are woven into the history of Sutton.
Across the four lunchtime talks we discovered how to read the symbols hidden in stained glass, met Sarah Glover, the Puritan in the cupboard, explored the remarkable and troubling story of Dorothy and Anne Mason, and followed the story of the Sanxay family, from refugees to members of the local establishment.
The talks were deliberately informal. Rather than simply sitting and listening, we moved around St Nicholas, looking closely at windows, monuments and some of the church’s less obvious corners. Thank you to everyone who came along, asked questions, shared their own knowledge and helped make each session such an enjoyable conversation about Sutton’s past.
You can find the handouts for these talks here: https://churchyardfriends.com/
Thank you for helping us save the Good Samaritan Window
The events also had an important purpose. At the end of each talk, we invited people, if they had enjoyed the session, to make a contribution towards the campaign to protect the magnificent Good Samaritan Window.
The window sits in the South Aisle Western Gable, where urgent structural repairs are needed. The overall cost of repairing the gable and protecting the window is expected to be over £35,000.
We are delighted to report that the Church has confirmed that £883.85 was given in cash and by cheque during September, comprising £383.85 in cash and a very generous cheque for £500.
And that is not yet the final figure. There were also donations made through the card machine which still need to be added, and we hope that some of the smaller cash donations may also qualify for tax relief, subject to the relevant Gift Aid arrangements.
Every £5, every £10 and every larger donation matters.
Heritage belongs to everyone
One of the things September has demonstrated again is that the history contained within St Nicholas Church is not simply the story of one congregation. It is part of the story of Sutton itself.
The church and churchyard preserve the memories of generations of local families, people who shaped the town, people whose stories challenge us, and works of art such as the Good Samaritan Window, which continue to speak to visitors today.
Thank you to everyone who visited an exhibition, came to a lunchtime talk, told someone else about the programme, made a donation or simply stopped to take a closer look.
Your interest helps us tell these stories.
Your generosity helps us preserve them.
