Church Finance

Such a scheme is vital if the Church is going to balance its books and have the balance on the right side at the end of the financial year. It helps to make it possible to budget for the spending on the necessities such as heating and lighting, and to meet the Diocesan quota contribution, also the ever increasing cost of maintaining the fabric of the building. The Church is getting older and needs more maintenance as the materials wear out.

Looking back in the records one finds that in the year 1686, the Reverend Percy Edward Smith, MA, became Vicar of Lenton after serving from 1881 as Assistant Curate of Lenton. It is said that after his induction as Vicar he wrote his first pastoral letter and referred to the complete restoration of the Old Parish Church, now the Priory Church of St. Anthony.

At this time, almost a hundred years later, we are undergoing almost a restoration in the New Parish Church. Many of the timber roof supports are having to be replaced owing to the fungus of dry rot having ravaged the timber, because of the damp which has seeped through the roof tiles and brickwork. The estimated cost to date is in the region of £26,000, although as the work progresses it is possible more damage could be detected.

In addition the organ has also been damaged due to the leaking roof, and is being repaired sufficiently to make it functional although for some time it has been reported by the organ builders who carry out a periodical inspection and maintenance that a major overhaul is required. This has not been possible because of our financial situation, in other words not sufficient money to cover the cost.

We would hope that by 1986, 100 years after that pastoral letter was written, we can look back on a complete restoration - and all paid for. It must have been something of a shock when our newly inducted Vicar, the Reverend David Williams MA, having taken over the Parish, with a dwindling congregation, and accounts in rather unhealthy condition, was suddenly confronted with a frightening report from the Diocesan Architect showing that certain roof timbers had been inspected and found to be infected with the fungus causing wood rot. Special scaffolding was erected and a thorough examination of the whole roof was carried out by specialists.

However, it was stated that if the known infected timbers were not replaced within twelve months then the whole roof could cave in. This would result in the Church becoming a ruin, possibly part dismantled for safety regulations, and the end of another chapter in the history of "these Lenton Parish Churches". A quick decision was vital, but a very difficult one for the members of the Parochial Church Council to make bearing in mind that we were hardly paying our way with normal day to day bills. Quotations received for the work to be put in hand had to be studied very carefully, and ways and means of raising the money to pay for the work on completion.

In the meantime the Vicar had written and contacted various possible sources of finance, either in the form of loans or ex-gratia, also we discussed ways in which the parishioners could raise extra income. After much discussion and thought had taken place at several Council meetings the decision to go ahead with the project was made. Many Lentonians (and old Lentonians living outside the Parish) would have been shocked if the project had been turned down, and consequently the Church would have become a ruin, unusable and finally demolished. How many people would have been "up in arms" because the Church, where they were baptised, married or even where they would wish their last service to be, is no more.

Unfortunately so many people expect the Church to be standing, maintained and all ready for them on the odd occasions when they may require its service, without any thought as to where the finance comes from to make this possible. It becomes a heavy burden and responsibility on those who endeavour to keep it in that condition in which so many would expect to find it. In a Church magazine of 1946, the Vicar of Lenton stated that the expense of maintaining our Churches, halls and schools, was increasing. The answer to the problem then was that if everyone who took a Church magazine gave one shilling per week, our financial needs would be more than met.

For those who do appreciate their Parish Church, thanks are due to the Reverend D. Williams, our Vicar, for giving his Council the faith and courage to attempt such a challenge, and this can only be successful if everyone takes a share of the burden. Reading an old magazine, February 1913, the article read:

"The exwardens, Alderman Albert Ball and Mr. W.S. Hemsley, being anxious to make shortly a special effort to extinguish the debt on the recent Church restoration, it was deemed advisable by the Church Council that no Congregational gathering should take place on Shrove Tuesday this year in order that the purses of parishioners might be left as full as possible as a provision for the calls which the gentlemen mentioned above are likely to make upon them. Personal calls will be supplemented by a printed appeal which these, your representatives, will be issuing shortly. It is hoped that by Sunday, June let, all debts will be extirpated. A united effort will effect this..."