A PUBLIC meeting has been called to ensure the well-being of Thorne's finest building for centuries to come. ST. NICHOLAS Church has been part of the fabric of the town from time immemorial, a reminder of Gods presence here, as a centre for offering worship and as the most eminent building in the town. The people of the community have preserved and enhanced it over the centuries so that it is still available for regular worship and for everyone to recognise special occasions such as baptisms, weddings, funerals and national and local celebrations.

WEAR AND TEAR

But like any building, it is subject to the wear and tear of time and climate and needs constant and regular upkeep and attention and this should involve all those who feel that St Nicholas is "their" Church. To this end, it is proposed to set up The Friends of St. Nicholas which will be a fund-raising body whose sole concern will be the maintenance and restoration of the fabric of the building. Naturally, the regular congregation will continue to do all they can but the net needs to be thrown wider if this architectural jewel is to be preserved for posterity. The congregations giving has to cover considerable and ever increasing "household" expenses before it can be put to building works.
     Will you become a Friend of St. Nicholas, either because you believe that the Church should continue to be part of the community, or because you feel that it deserves to be preserved as part of our architectural and cultural history? If so, come to a public meeting on Saturday, 21st February at 10.00 am in the Church at which The Friends of St. Nicholas will be launched and you can find out more about its aims and objectives and hopefully pledge your support.

CHAIRMAN

Chairman of the Trustees, Tom Pritchard, told the Gazette, "The idea of a `Friends of St. Nicholas Church', Thorne, has been around for a while. Just before Christmas 2002, Sue Holbrook and I had a meeting with Hatfield Church Building Trust members, the late Dr and Mrs Waters, to establish how to formulate the necessary trust for Thorne church.
     "I took on the role of an initial trustee, aided by Audrey Mennie as another trustee, and Ian Harrison (Town Clerk) as an ex-officio trustee, to represent an outside body, and for our seeretary/treasurer Venetia Mattocks.
     "The `model' deed we followed was Hatfield's, initiated by the diocesan registrar Miranda Myers, and out of it came `Thorne Church Fabric Trust' (vetted by the Charity Commission for 6 months)! The deeds were signed in March 2003. and we actually managed to open a bank account at the end of the vetting period in October 2003.
     "The next stage is to have a support group - `The Friends of St. Nicholas' and that is what the meeting on the 21st February is all about.
     "As an update of what is required at St Nicholas Church fabric, recently we had the celestory windows covered with polycarbonate protection from stone throwing vandals (£2,000).
     "Still needing doing:
• Renewal of the boiler access cover (stove in by vandals).
• The chancel roof timbers require work, £25,000 estimate (2+ years ago). We have a shortfall there of £5,000
• A requirement for updated electrical work. Full specification runs to £10,000.
• The organ needs a minimum of £l,000 minor overhaul."

DO WE NEED FRIENDS? - YES!