As we come to the end of what has been an exceptionally challenging year for all of us, I wanted to thank you for your continued support for the Trust.
Despite the challenges 2020 has thrown at us, YHCT trustees have been delighted to award over £107,000 to thirty one places of Christian worship across the county.
Funding has been awarded to assist with vital repairs and maintenance, ranging from small scale gutter maintenance to contributions to major reroofing projects.
We are particularly pleased to have been able to award funding to a wide variety of places of worship, from an unlisted rural Methodist chapel in Brompton on Swale to a Grade II* listed inner-city parish church, All Saints, Little Horton, with it’s 201 ft. spire.
All the recipients had felt the effect of the lockdown and subsequent restrictions on their ability to fundraise, but what they all have in common is both the economic and social value they provide to their local communities, proving especially during a time of crisis, places of worship are so much more than just bricks and mortar.
We were extremely disappointed to have to cancel our programme of events for the year. We had some especially interesting tours and talks lined up, but we will be delighted to re-schedule them in 2021.
Many thanks to those who had booked places; you will have been contacted regarding the new dates. As the Western Wolds tour was fully booked, please do let us know if you can’t make the rearranged date as we do have a waiting list.
There are still places available for a talk on ‘Designing stained glass’ on Monday 11 April. More information and a booking form can be found at https://www.yhct.org.uk/eventspage/
A few places also remain on the Churches of the Derwent tour on Tuesday 22nd June, see www.yhct.org.uk for more information.
We are also planning a tour of churches of the Howardian Hills in September 2021 and a talk on the wall paintings in Pickering Church. Details of these events will be posted on our website later next year.
All these events are planned to raise funds for the vital work of YHCT, and also to give members an opportunity to discover some of the treasures of our ecclesiastical heritage throughout Yorkshire. Why not give a Friend’s membership of YHCT to someone for Christmas? www.yhct.org.uk
In 2020 we have continued to receive support from the Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation, the Holy Rood Community Trust, and many individuals who have continued to support our activities. We’re very grateful for their continued and generous support for our work.
We wish you all a very Happy Christmas and look forward to welcoming you at an event in what we hope will be a more promising and healthy New Year.
Tom Ramsden – Chairman
