Friends of St James

Friends of St James

The Friends of St James, Biddenham

Would you like to join The Friends of St James? This is an independent charity, established in 2005, which allows anyone who values the parish church of St James as a focal point in Biddenham and Great Denham’s village life to contribute to the “preservation, repair, maintenance, restoration, improvement and ornamentation” of the fabric of the church, barn and churchyards. These are buildings and grounds where the people of Biddenham come together to mark the major events of their private and public lives. As a charity separate from the Parochial Church Council (PCC), The Friends of St James provides a way for those with limited or no interest in the religious aspects of the church to support these historic and beautiful buildings for the benefit of future generations.

Membership of The Friends of St James is by annual subscription – this is currently £20 for individuals and £30 for couples or families. By becoming a Member you will be able to support the objectives of the charity, receive a Members’ newsletter and be informed about events run by The Friends of St James. In addition, you will receive discounted entry to our events, such as concerts held in the church. However, please note that most of our events are also open to non-members, who will be made most welcome.

Since the launch of The Friends of St James, sufficient funds have been raised to make several significant donations to the PCC to support specific projects, which have included:
• a complete upgrade of the sound system in the church
• renovating the weathercock and replacing the weathervane on the spire
• renovating, cleaning and upgrading the organ
• replacing the church clock mechanism
• repairing old leaded windows
• replacing a churchyard gate and renovating external doors
• removing a front pew to enable better use of the church nave
• repairs to the church roof and stonework
• refurbishing the barn floor.

The committee currently comprises Paul Fricker (Treasurer), Peter Leverkus (Secretary and Membership), John Barkas, Chris Haydn Jones, Diana Shooter and Rev Eric Lomax, supported by Laurie Hurn (Churchwarden). For more information on The Friends of St James or for a membership application form, please contact Peter Leverkus on 01234 353662 or peterleverkus@outlook.com