Two years ago on Monday 24th January eleven persons gathered at the home of Joan Hardman for the first meeting of the Fund Raising Working Group. They were Joan, Mavis Fletcher, Katrina Holyfield, Lyn Fenton, Cath Rae, Wendy Bennett, Morag McManus, Barbara Hothersall, Andrew Gregory, Chris Porter and Geoff Oldham (from the Executive Group). Joan was in the Chair and Morag was elected Secretary - and that is how it all began. It seems a long time ago now when I look back. We were full of ideas and enthusiasm, a little apprehensive about the mammoth task which lay ahead but determined that we would do our very best for the Development Fund. Although the planning permission for the scheme had not been granted, we had to push on to raise monies to cover expenses incurred. So with our terms of reference drawn up, we set off on the long, and sometimes rocky road towards £1.5 million pounds. We began in April 2000 with ‘April Blessings’ organised by Joan. To refresh memories we had to count our light bulbs and taps and bars of soap etc. It raised £411.67, our first blood one might say.

Wendy left us in the summer to work elsewhere. Chris left the following June after having put in a monumental amount of work in the production of the Launch displays. Joan stepped down from the Chair after the Launch but remained in the group and acts as our Treasurer and I (Barbara) picked up her baton. Edna Armstrong joined us last Autumn just in time for the Christmas ‘Super’ Market. As a group we work very well together and, by and large, enjoy ourselves bringing to the group our various skills.. I would like to pay tribute to the special talent of one member; there is no-one in the Church, no-one in the whole of Preston even, who can sell tickets like Cath Rae!

Looking back over the two years I am staggered at the range of activities that have raised funds. The big events (those that raised over £1,000) include the Sponsored Morecambe Bay walk, ‘Robin Hood’, the last two Christmas Fayres, and the John Rutter Day. There have been plant sales, book sales, jumble sales, bric-a-brac, table top and clothing sales and coffee mornings. Entertainments include barn dances, choral and band concerts, a performance of ‘Burning Questions’, a portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I by Lizzie Jones and a ‘One-Man Show’ put on by Brian Sumner. We enjoyed ourselves during the Family Fun Week and four of our stalwart lads took part in the Great North Run. Two cookery demonstrations at Preston College and Bandu and Kunda’s superb Asian take-aways have satisfied our tastebuds and two visits to Jenny and David’s lovely garden have gladdened our eyes. The youth of the church has raised money through the sale of Building Together badges, car washes and coffee mornings, cake stalls and a disco. Cath has sold her lemon cheese, Jean Reid her flower fairies, Mavis her greetings cards and the Faith stationery has been a success. Margaret Squire ran a Christmas music quiz and we look forward to her next effort. Money has come in the form of donations, both individually and collectively. I’m certain that I must have missed something out and if so I apologise.

The Church has to raise the sum of £400,000. By November the total amount in the Development Fund was about £160,000. It has grown since then with the Christmas ‘Super’ Market and other things. This amount includes transfers from other accounts, monies raised from the Launch and pledges, legacies and donations and fund raising. £26,700 has been raised through fund raising activities. One question we are frequently asked. "How much has been raised?" To keep everyone informed and up-to-date we intend to use the elephant Martin introduced at the launch. In the near future he will come out of the bush and into Church so look out for him!

We could not have achieved anything without the support of you all and I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of all the Fundraising Group to thank you. As well as supporting the events, many folk have helped in all sorts of ways e.g. organising activities, providing refreshments, washing up, setting up and tidying away of rooms, publicity, selling tickets, and so on.... our grateful thanks to you all. I cannot emphasise enough our need for help in organising events. Overheard in Church by one of our group "We have a Fund Raising Group to raise all the money" - not so! We still have a long way to go yet so again we ask for your support.

From the very beginning in April 2000, every Sunday morning, quietly and unobtrusively - like a church mouse - Gordon Cuthbert has been gathering and counting your ‘tiddlers’, all £342 of them! Every little helps!