This autumn, the Friends of St Nicholas Churchyard are launching a programme of events, talks and activities to support our Save the Good Samaritan Window appeal.
Our target is £40,000.
The magnificent Good Samaritan Window is set into the South Aisle Western Gable of St Nicholas Church, where the wall now needs urgent attention. The masonry is deteriorating, flints are beginning to come loose and the stonework surrounding the window requires repair. We need to make sure that this beautiful historic window is properly protected while that work takes place.
But this is about more than maintaining a church building. The Good Samaritan Window is part of Sutton's heritage, connecting the story of the church with local people, Victorian craftsmanship and the history of our town.
Heritage is everyone's, and we hope the whole community will get involved.
Something for everyone this autumn
We have deliberately planned a mixture of fundraising events and free heritage talks between October and Christmas. Come for cake, play bingo, test your knowledge, discover some surprising local history, or simply enjoy an afternoon with friends.
Thursday 22nd October, 7:30 pm, St Nicholas Church
Sutton Soup. We will be pitching for funding towards a professional conservation report on the Good Samaritan Window. Come along, hear about some great local projects and vote for the one you would like to support.Saturday 24th October, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, St Nicholas Church
Cake & Cards Sale. Cakes and drinks are just £1 each, so come in, have a cuppa and help the appeal at the same time.Saturday 31st October, 11 am to 3 pm, St Nicholas Community Hall
Bingo Afternoon. Tickets are £8, bookable in advance, and include refreshments.Thursday 5th November, 12:30 to 1:30 pm, St Nicholas Church
The Stones Cry Out, The Stories Behind St Nicholas' War Memorials. Another of our accessible lunchtime history talks exploring the stories hidden around the church.Saturday 7th November, 11 am to 3 pm, St Nicholas Community Hall
Games Afternoon. Tickets are £8, bookable in advance, including refreshments. Come with friends or join others for a relaxed afternoon of games.Thursday 19th November, 12:30 to 1:30 pm, St Nicholas Church
The Listed Monuments of St Nicholas. Discover some of the remarkable monuments inside the church and the people whose stories they preserve.Thursday 19th November, 7:30 to 9:30 pm, St Nicholas Community Hall
"Pub" Quiz. Tickets are £5 per person. Bring your own drinks, we will provide corn chips, dips and crisps. Form your own team of up to six, or simply come along and join a table on the night.Thursday 3rd December, 12:30 to 1:30 pm, St Nicholas Church
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Criminal Clergy of St Nicholas. A rather less respectable excursion into Sutton's ecclesiastical past.Saturday 13th December, 12 noon to 3 pm, St Nicholas Community Hall
Christmas Tea. Tickets are £10, with mince pies, cakes and refreshments. This will also be the occasion when we draw our Grand Raffle.
The Grand Raffle
Our Grand Raffle tickets will go on sale from 22nd November, with the draw taking place at the Christmas Tea on 13th December.
Tickets for our fundraising events and the raffle will be available from St Nicholas Church and the Chatty Cafe.
Come along and be part of it
We hope there really is something here for everyone.
You might come because you enjoy local history. You might fancy an afternoon of bingo or games. You might bring a team to the quiz, enjoy tea and cake, buy a raffle ticket, or simply tell somebody else about the campaign.
All of those things help.
And every pound we raise takes us another step towards protecting a remarkable piece of Sutton's heritage for the next generation.
You can learn more about the campaign and the work of the Friends at www.churchyardfriends.com.
