Page 10 - Oxted Local October 2024

10 October 2024
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Oxted Local 
01883 708 166 www.oxtedlocal.co.uk www.facebook.com/oxtedlocalmagazine www.instagram.com/oxtedlocal
News from St. Mary’s Church, Oxted
Urgent Repairs
Several months ago urgent repairs
were carried out to the top part of
the church tower. The stonework
had deteriorated so much that
occasionally stones were falling
off and English Heritage had
declared the building at risk. As
the custodians of a Grade One
listed building the Parochial
Church Council (PCC), is obliged
to maintain the building in a fit
state of repair. Unfortunately the
necessary repairs are very costly
and contrary to popular belief
neither the State nor the Church
Commissioners will pay for these
repairs – it is up to the local
congregation to raise the money.
Having spent £69,862.90 repairs to
the tower stopped in September
2023 when the money ran out.
There is still a considerable part
of the church tower that has got
to be repaired- the cost of this
outstanding work is just under
£100,000 plus Fees. In addition
to this the church porch is having
to undergo repairs –the external
fabric is deteriorating and some
defective stone has to be replaced.
This is costing at least a further
£17,632.14 plus fees.
Fund Raising Autumn Fair: 12th
October, 10.00am-3.00pm in
St. Mary’s Space in OCH
In the light of the necessary
forthcoming expenditure on the
church fabric it is important for
church members to organise
some fund raising activities. The
next one of these is our Autumn
Fair being held in The St. Mary’s
Space and the Meeting Room in
Oxted Community Hall. Stalls will
include toiletries and gifts of all
sorts, books, jigsaw puzzles, plants,
original paintings, photographic
cards, guess the weight of the cake
(Courtesy of the Sweet Chestnut)
and some more child friendly
ones such as guess the number
of sweets in a jar and a soft toy
tombola.
Entrance to the Fair is free.
It is being run at the same time
as the RNLI Fair in the main hall
-both organisations feeling that
they benefit from the foot fall of
the other organization.
Music recital: 19th October,
6.00pm in St. Mary’s Church
Many people value the sound
of organ music -particularly at
Weddings and Funerals as well as
at the usual church services. St.
Mary’s Church is lucky enough to
have a good quality 19th Century
pipe organ by Speechleys but it
is expensive to maintain. Regular
maintenance of the organ is
undertaken but every so often
more extensive works are needed
which fall out of the regular
budget – this moment has arrived.
These works will cost £5,726 plus
VAT and include such things as
replacing worn and damaged
contacts on pedals which are not
working and which therefore limit
the sound of the organ.
To pay for this extra expense
an organ appeal fund has been
launched and church members
have already contributed to it.
To help finance the repairs there
will be a music recital with piano
and violin on the 19th October
from 6.00pm to 7.00pm in church.
The reflective music will include
works by Elgar, Bach and John
Williams. Entrance is free and all
are welcome but there will be a
retiring collection.
Further works which would
improve the sound of the organ
would cost approximately £7,000
but these have been put on hold
at the moment.
Memorial Service for the
Departed: November 3rd at
2.30pm in St. Mary’s Church.
This annual service is for all those
who would like to remember a
loved one. The informal service
will be conducted by the Rector
The Revd James Ashton and
during the service there will be the
opportunity to light a candle in
remembrance of loved ones and
to have the name(s) of the loved
one(s) read out. The service will be
followed by the chance to chat to
the clergy over a cup of tea and
cake in Oxted Community Hall.
Whilst invitations are being sent
out to all those who have lost
loved ones in the last three years
and to all those who have asked
to remain on our mailing list the
service and tea afterwards are
open to all.
More details are available from
the Parish Office on 01883
714263 or by email: stmaryoxted.
stpetertandridge@gmail.com or
on the church website
www.stmarysoxted.uk