Holme-next-the-Sea
Norfolk

Help Holme Church Group

The Help Holme Church Group was set up in the early nineties as a result of the church needing repairs to the vestry roof. The inaugural meeting was held on 16th November, 1992 and there were just four ladies present.

It was agreed that the aims and objectives of the Group would be to raise money to maintain, repair and replace the general fabric of the church and also to encourage a greater village 'togetherness'.

In 2009 there are about twenty members in the Group and meetings are held every month except August.

Since it was founded the Group has given to St. Mary's, Holme-next-the-Sea about £63,500 to fund a wide range of projects. Money has been used to re-wire the church, renew rendering in some areas, and to provide an audio system. Purchases have included hymn books, kneelers, Christmas tree decorations and a vacuum cleaner.

Major projects to receive money from the group have been the installation of heaters and the replacement of the three south side windows. A recent project was completed in 2009 when the Group funded all of the building work to provide toilet and kitchenette facilities for the church.



Another project completed in early 2010 was the refurbishment and re-hanging of the main gates to the Church path. The hinges on the gates had to be replaced with more substantial fittings to take the weight of the very heavy gates. Additionally, the two pillars either side of the gates had to be partially rebuilt. We now have a pair of very smart gates which can be opened and closed easily - bliss!





In July, 2010 work was completed to repair parts of the north wall of the church. Areas of of the wall at the rear of the newly built toilet and nearby were looking rather sad due to weathering and general erosion caused by old age. The Group has funded this work and, as you can see, the job was completed with sensitivity to closely match the adjacent walls.








The Help Holme Church Group is now aiming, more ambitiously, to raise money to pay for much needed repairs to the structure of the Vestry.

The Group runs the 100+ Club to raise money. Shares are sold at £12 each per year and there is a monthly draw with four prizes. The winners are published each month on this page as well as in the parish magazine Link.

To purchase shares in the Help Holme Church Group 100+ please email 100+ Club with your contact details. Your support would be very much appreciated. Thank you!




The most important fund-raising event of the year is the Open Gardens day when everyone pitches in and, with the help of lots of friends and relatives, the village is host to hundreds of visitors who come to enjoy looking around the gardens which have been opened to the public and to enjoy the refreshments provided in the Village Hall.




We are always pleased when new members join us - new people with new ideas help keep the Group going. If you feel that you would like to help or contribute in any way, no matter how small, please do get in touch by emailing The Help Holme Church Group. You do not have to be a church goer to enjoy the company of other villagers and get involved with much of what is going on in the village.