Giving
Within the Benefice we are grateful for continued support / donations that are vital in helping us keep our churches going.
Two of our churches have joined the Give A Little campaign and you can donate to these churches via the following link:
Give a little, St Mary's Church, Stratford St Mary
Give a little, St Mary's Church, Holton St Mary
‘Feeding Faith Mission’ – Benefice Lent Appeal 2025
Hola from Guatemala!
We have had a great start to the year with our cooler-than-normal weather. Everyone is bundled up in our 26-degree “cool fronts.” While it’s nothing like an English winter, it is a much welcome relief in our little part of the globe.
Our latest water purification plant now distributes clean, purified water to the local community. While the plant is operational, you may recall we had some issues digging our well. The original survey stated the water would be at 10 meters, but as the men dug (by hand) to 30 meters and never hit water, we had to regroup.
We had a ground-penetrating radar test done, which revealed the water vein was actually at 80 meters. Therefore, we ceased the work and a local farmer is allowing us to use his well until we can complete the dig. We are working tirelessly to fundraise for this vital resource which we hope to have completed later this summer.
In addition, we continue to feed 300 children each week in our soup program. Many children in a local village live in extreme poverty and have little to no food many days. The soup program provides nutrition for a full day and opens the door for us to show the Lord's love tangibly. Since its inception, this program has been instrumental in doubling the attendance in our congregation. Praise God!
For 2025, we are leaning deeper into the water program to complete and enhance the plants we built but we still continue with our programme of building stoves, too.
We thank you all, as always, for your continued support and generosity and look forward to our next visit to East Anglia.
Wishing you a blessed Lent and Easter season,
Julian and Kristen Crisp
Julian Crisp is originally from Raydon. He and his wife Kristen moved as missionaries to Guatemala where they set up the charity ‘Feeding Faith’. You can follow them on Facebook. They come back to Suffolk every year when they join us for worship and update us on their mission.
The Benefice Ministry Team decided that our Lent Appeal this year should be for ‘Feeding Faith’. Please give generously.
Rev’d Manette
Higham
Just Giving Higham Defibrillator link
Holton St Mary
Please support our campaign for a village composting toilet in Holton St Mary. You can donate using the following link or by using the QR code below:
Give a little, Holton St Mary composting toilet donations
Use this QR code to donate via Give a little to the composting toilet
Stratford St Mary Appeal
Stratford St Mary's Beautiful Church needs you!
Did you know that Norfolk and Suffolk together have the largest number of medieval buildings in the world? Many of these churches are of unique historical and architectural importance. Mentioned in the Domesday Book Stratford St Mary Parish Church is one of them. Our church boasts almost unique flush work with an alphabet frieze in knapped flints, set into the north wall, alongside the main road. The chancel was built in about 1360 and the North aisle was added by Thomas Mors a wealthy clothier in 1499.
Trying to preserve our church building is a constant challenge and we now have problems with the heritage stonework on the tower which is in need of urgent repair. For safety, the area surrounding the tower has been cordoned off. Unfortunately this includes the War Memorial ( * please note we will still be holding our Remembrance Day Service, with a musician from Phoenix Suffolk Brass to play the Last Post)
How can you help? We are mounting a major fund-raising effort, to undertake the necessary repair work and ensure we protect and preserve the cultural heritage of Stratford St Mary church.
Even if you are not a regular worshipper with us, please consider if you are able to make a donation to help us to maintain our church building for future generations.
This QR code to our 'Give a Little' page, provides an easy way to donate - alternatively, there is a wall safe inside the church, or contact me directly.
Thank you for reading this appeal - please help if you can.
Sandy Ranson - Churchwarden.
Email: Sandy Ranson
If you would like to make donation to help maintain our
beautiful medieval wool Church and support our work in the community this can
be done through online giving by logging on to easyfundraising.co.uk and
following the following link:
Easy fund raising, St Mary's Church, Stratford St Mary
or via the Give a Little Campaign link:
Give a little, St Mary's Church, Stratford St Mary
- The Rectory
- Hadleigh Road
- Raydon
- Suffolk
- IP7 5LH
07947 737789
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