FRIENDS OF ST ANDREW’S Kirk Ella
Friends of St Andrew’s Kirk Ella – A registered charity to preserve the building
The St Andrew’s church tower is visible from all corners of the local landscape, and the church building has been at the heart of Kirk Ella for a thousand years.
We want to ensure that St Andrew’s Church building will be in good condition for the people of Kirk Ella for the next century, just as Joseph Sykes has so generously provided for the people of Kirk Ella ever since 1860.
Friends of St Andrew’s Kirk Ella
Since 1860, the people of Kirk Ella have worshipped in a church reshaped and renewed through the vision of one generous man, Joseph Sykes. His gift gave us a building that has stood at the heart of our village for over 150 years.
Today, we are not looking for another “Joseph Sykes,” but for a number of families and individuals to come together with that same vision, to invest in tomorrow’s Kirk Ella.
This building matters. It marks life’s most important moments—baptisms, weddings, farewells—and stands as a beautiful, historic landmark at the centre of our village. It is no longer fair to expect the Sunday congregation alone to bear the cost of maintaining what serves the whole community.
St Andrew’s is more than stone and history. It is a living community—called together by the love of God through Jesus Christ. It exists to renew the heart of Kirk Ella: strengthening families, caring for the elderly, encouraging the lonely, lifting our eyes from time to eternity, and sharing God’s kindness with all.
Now it is our turn.
Together, let us secure the future of St Andrew’s so it may continue to stand, serve, and inspire for generations to come.
Why do we need a Friends of St Andrew’s Kirk Ella?
Any building needs attention if it is going to remain sound. A building as old as St Andrew’s especially so. Care must be taken with suitable materials and skilled labour to ensure that the highest standards are maintained in the care of the buildings.
At the same time, the church family seek to develop the building in accordance with the needs of a modern Kirk Ella.
Over the years, we have:
- Renewed the lighting system
- Repainted the interior of the building
- Refurbished the choir vestry
- Rebuilt the organ
- Installed a humidifier
- Repaired broken windows
- Added window guards
- Replaced the PA system
- Installed CCTV
- Replaced the heating system
- Reordered the interior
- Renewed the East Window, which was last necessary in 1880
Total costs: over £200,000.
The St Andrew’s church building costs between £10,000 to £15,000 a year to maintain…
Before we switch on a light bulb or turn on a radiator.
Just one example:
The organ builders have explained that we need to put away £1,000 a year for twenty years, in order to make certain that the organ is kept in good condition over the longer term. The result is that we need to put away about £40 every time we play the organ, so that we have a fully functioning organ for weddings and funerals, as well as regular services.
We think it is no longer reasonable for the regular Sunday congregations to carry the whole burden of the cost of the building, when the church building plays an important part in the lives of many more villagers than are ever present on any one Sunday.
How does the Friends of St Andrew’s Kirk Ella function?
There’s an Annual Reception for the Friends of St Andrew’s Kirk Ella, at which the accounts will be available, and at which we will report back on our progress over the previous year, while at the same time identifying the priorities for the next year.
We have formed a registered charity called “The Friends of St Andrew’s Kirk Ella”.
The trustees of “The Friends of St Andrew’s Kirk Ella” are:
- Graham Brookes
- Chris Franklin
- Peter Roberts
- Penny Laucht.
How does the Friends of St Andrew’s Kirk Ella spend any money raised?
St Andrew’s Church building, like all churches, is subject to a five year inspection regime by an architect approved by the diocese.
The architect produces a Quinquennial Inspection (QI) Report, listing essential and desirable repairs over the next five year period, as well as identifying areas of the building that must be kept under close scrutiny. This report feeds into a larger ten-year rolling maintenance programme.
Inevitably, the QI Report presents issues which we have not anticipated, and the costs can be quite large. To mitigate against this, it is our intention to have an interim inspection halfway between the formal inspections. We also take advice from the Ecclesiastical Insurance Company about the care of our assets, such as the organ, bells, roof and windows.
In the first instance, any money raised by the Friends of St Andrew’s Kirk Ella will be spent in order to carry out the repairs listed in the QI Report. Beyond this, other items on the ten-year plan will be looked after.
Our hope is that, by taking a pro-active approach to the maintenance of the building, we will be able to avoid any disasters that might put the building out of action for extended periods and, indeed, keep maintenance to those times when it will be least disruptive to the life of the church and community.
How do I join the Friends of St Andrew’s Kirk Ella?
By filling out the Standing Order form for £50 a year, and returning it to:
Friends of St Andrew’s Kirk Ella,
St Andrew’s Church Office,
The Memorial Hall,
Beverley Road,
Kirk Ella
HU10 7QA.
You will receive a letter of acknowledgement, a copy of the constitution of the Friends of St Andrew’s Kirk Ella, and an invitation to the next Friends of St Andrew’s Kirk Ella Reception.
Is there anything practical that I can do to help the Friends of St Andrew’s Kirk Ella?
Yes! If you have a particular skill you would like to offer, please let us know.
If you have no particular skill, but lots of time and energy and plenty of enthusiasm, again please let us know.
Every Grade 1 listed building always generates plenty of small scale or larger practical projects waiting for the right person to appear in order to take them on.
There are regular and cheerful cleaning teams working inside the church building, and occasional churchyard clear up sessions outside.
Please let us know if you would like to be involved in any way.
FRIENDS OF ST ANDREW’S ENQUIRY
For details, please contact XXX, complete the form
And we know that for those who love GOD all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
(Romans 8:28)