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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.
A
few years ago the trustees decided to establish The Friends of Wardour Chapel with the
simple aim of generating an annual income to 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 is 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 (10:30am)
and Tuesday (9.30am). 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 was 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 £10 per month or, for those who prefer, £120 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 (2023)
it will take the form of Mass at 10:30 am on Sunday 5th November,
followed by drinks
The
Chapel will also be available to Friends by appointment.
Letter to Friends October 2022