The Friends of St Mary’s Church
The Friends of St Mary’s Church raises funds to contribute towards the preservation and maintenance of the fabric and furnishings of St Mary’s Church for the benefit of the congregation and the people of the city. Events such as bazaars and concerts are held in St Mary’s both to boost funds and to get together for a social occassion.
The Friends have supported a number of projects financially, including stained glass window protection grilles, stonework repairs at the west end of the church, repairs to the organ the bells and drains and moveable display screens.
While the core of the Friends is made up of worshippers at St Mary’s, peole and organisations from all over the city and beyond, especially those with connections through marriage, baptism or other family connections or memories of the church are most welcome to become members and support the civic church of Southampton, so that it can be open and available to be enjoyed by all.
If you would like to become a ‘Friend’ of St Mary’s Church you can download a membership form to complete and return with your subscription. The same form can be used for organisational membership. Your subscription can be Gift Aided if you are a taxpayer.
One way to remember and commemorate the work of St Mary’s Church is through a legacy. As a registered charity legacies to the Friends of St Mary’s Church are exempt from inheritance tax. Your solicitor will be able to advise on a suitable form of words.
The Friends of St. Michael’s
The Friends of St Michael’s are a charity set up in the 1970′s at a time when the Church of England was proposing to close St Michael’s along with a number of churches in the centre of Southampton. This caused alarm with many who thought that this should not happen to what is probably the oldest “lived-in” building, still standing, in Southampton.
The objective of the Friends’ is not only to preserve the physical building structure and its furnishings, but also to ensure that it by its very physical presence as a historical masterpiece in the centre of Southampton, it continues to represent a valuable benefit for the whole of the community of Southampton.
Originally constructed following the Norman Conquest, St Michaels is a living testimony to the history of Southampton. Today, the Friends provide invaluable support not only to the maintenance of the Church itself but to many of its activities. Of special note is the Friends support for the music scholars of Southampton University and their formidably impressive choir, Cantores.
Looking to the future, the Friend’s are working on a series of initiatives including the development of a highly interactive website incorporating video content provided by the innovative media arm of Southampton Solent University, Solent Creatives.
