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Friends of
Wardour Chapel
The
chapel has been owned by a trust (Charity Registration Number 224234) since
1898 and is entirely dependent on donations as no endowment was made when the
trust was established.
Over
recent years, financial constraints have prevented the trustees from
undertaking any significant maintenance tasks.
However, some things cannot be put off any longer, and the trustees have
therefore decided to establish The
Friends of Wardour Chapel with the simple aim of generating an annual
income which will help to achieve the task of keeping this great chapel open
for worship.
The
annual running costs of the chapel, before maintenance, are in the region of
£15,000 and it has become increasingly clear that these costs are beyond the
resources of the local congregation. The
Friends program seeks to raise funds towards these costs, for identified
building and repair projects, and to build a sinking fund for future works.
Currently
the chapel is open to the public twice a week and is in regular use as an
important part of the parish of Tisbury and Wardour. Services are celebrated every Sunday (11am)
and Tuesday (9.15am). In addition, there
is a thriving state primary school at Wardour, and the pupils attend the chapel
on Tuesdays during term time. It is of
great benefit to the students of the school to be able to experience this
magnificent building and its treasures as a regular part of their education,
and it is therefore of on-going significance to the spiritual life of the local
community.
In
addition to the fabric of the building, the Wardour Chapel Trust is responsible
for the very fine contents of the chapel and the sacristy: vestments, silver
and several large and notable continental paintings. All this is in increasing need of
conservation work. The trustees believe
that these items should remain at the chapel, to be used as intended by those
who made and gave them, rather than be added to a museum collection. However,
ongoing conservation and repairs are essential.
The Friends of Wardour
Chapel has been established to provide the opportunity to help in a material
way to ensure that this Grade I listed architectural gem remains open and
active for future generations. The
trustees believe that this should be of wider concern than the local community,
and are therefore asking for benefactors to consider becoming Friends:
membership costs £8 per month or, for those who prefer,
£95 per year, payable by standing order.
There is an annual open day around
the Feast of All Saints to which Friends are cordially invited. This year it
will take the form of Mass at 11am on Sunday 1st November, followed
by drinks
The
Chapel will also be available to Friends by appointment.
A
report by the Trustees on activities in the last year can be found here
Gift Aid declaration (if appropriate)