150th Anniversary Campaign Heritage & Community in Cambridge
Scenes from the Friends’ 150th Anniversary Campaign Launch The Treasurer gives a tour
The Chair addresses visitors Images by P. Nixon
The Future The mission of the Friends of St Giles‘ Church, Cambridge, is to protect and enhance St Giles’ and thereby support the many activities that take place in and around it. We see the building‘s heritage and purpose to be at the heart of the entire community, regardless of their faith. Hence, the Friends of St Giles’ are legally distinctive from the Christian communities who worship here. We ask you to join us in ensuring that this church is fit for future service to all who live, work and visit Cambridge. In time for the current Church’s 150th Anniversary in 2025, we need to raise at least £250,000 - most importantly to equip it to generate its own income. We cannot do that without you becoming a Friend of St Giles’ Church. A giving form is enclosed with this leaflet. Please help us safeguard the future of this beautiful and important building. Every contribution is gratefully received. We hope you can see the immense potential this building has and should you be prompted to continue the conversation about the future of St Giles’, please contact me personally. I look forward to hearing from you.
John F. Mueller Chair of Trustees, Friends of St Giles‘ Church, Cambridge Private Email jfm39@cam.ac.uk
The Sanctuary Barry Starling
Community St Giles’ Church, Cambridge, is at the heart of its community, welcoming those of all faiths and none. A social space for local people, it is also a tourist attraction for visitors to the city. Each year thousands enjoy the concerts, lectures and festivals that take place here. As a place of worship it is used by an Anglican congregation and a Romanian Orthodox parish. In winter the building offers shelter, food and entertainment to local homeless. The Friends of St Giles’ wish to restore the building to its former glory and carry out a sensitive programme of modernisation so that it can host larger events, thus generating an income. Although hiring the Church is not expensive we want to subsidise rates for low-income groups. The Friends of St Giles’, and those who use it, are committed to continuing the long tradition of social support for which the Church is known.
St Giles’ Scout Troop in 1911
Heritage The original church of St Giles was built almost a thousand years ago. By the 19th century it had been much altered and neglected, but still the congregation grew. It was swept up in the campaign to abolish ‘pew rents’ and to provide free seating for all. Up to 700 people were drawn to services. Pressure of numbers and a new style of worship called for a larger building. In 1875 the current church was completed, incorporating the most ancient parts of the original structure. From the beginning this new church was ambitious in its social provision for residents of the surrounding slums, and during the Second World War the building housed evacuees. Today’s community activities are a direct continuation of this important social heritage, which the Friends are keen to support.
East Window Steve Day
East Window Paul Day
Art& Craft For nearly a thousand years a structure has stood on this site offering solace, beauty, distraction, comfort and care to the people of Cambridge and its visitors. With the rebuilding of the Church in 1875 came the opportunity to commission outstanding works from the most famous church designers of the time – Sir Ninian Comper and Sir Charles Kempe. A copy of a work by Veronese was installed, along with wooden carvings imported from Bavaria, and a relief after Michelangelo. All of these are still to be seen in the Church. The Friends will help preserve and enhance the Grade II* listed building and its precious interior.
Of outstanding quality by virtue of its collection of medieval and 18th-century survivals, together with 19th-century fittings by many of England's leading church decorators. Historic England
Student Concert at St Giles’ Gareth Nunns
You can help... ...Conserve Windows
The windows in St Giles’ were designed by renowned church architects, among them Comper and Kempe. Showing male and female saints representing each century of the past two millennia, they are in need of professional cleaning by experts to reveal their full effect.
...Restore the Ceiling
The ceiling of the sanctuary of the Church, closest to the altar, is exquisitely painted with angels and floral patterns. Over the decades pollution has caused the colours and the gold leaf to fade, and restoration is needed to bring back their vibrancy.
...Replace the Heating
A frequent complaint of groups using the Church are the chilly temperatures they have to endure. Even with the heating on full it is very difficult to heat the building efficiently. The current system is coming to the end of its useful life and reparing it is expensive. The Friends would like to see an energy efficient and eco-friendly solution explored, that can keep us warm at minimum cost.
The Lady Chapel Barry Starling
You can help... ...Support Community Activities
The Friends wish to support community activities, exhibitions and performances, and to establish a fund to subsidise the cost of hiring the building by lowincome charitable groups.
...Update the Sound System
Lectures, concerts and weekly services in St Giles’ are disadvantaged by the poor quality and unreliability of the current sound system. Installing the latest technology will attract bookings and valuable revenue.
...Install dramatic Lighting
The beauty of St Giles’ is obvious, but on a rainy day the current lighting does not bring out the vibrant colours of the paintwork or the texture of carvings. Better lighting will attract more revenue-generating events and enhance this unique interior for all users and visitors.
...Dry the Crypt
The cellar of the Church has been slowly filling with water over the past decades, at times reaching kneehigh level. To counter the threat of serious longterm structural damage a pump and special lining need to be installed.
In your hands Your signature has an immense power: to contribute to this unique marriage of art and history with a social conscience. There are many ways you can get involved, details can be found on the enclosed form. The Friends of St Giles’ Church, Cambridge Account Number: 33695760 Lloyds Bank, Sortcode: 30-13-55 A single donation of £10 Membership of the Friends for a year A single donation of £100 or more Membership of the Friends for a year A free ticket to the next Garden Party (or corporate membership) A monthly donation of £5 or more Membership of the Friends (while the gift is active) A free ticket to the Garden Party A donation of £10 or more a month pledged for nine years Membership of the Friends until the end of the campaign A free ticket to the Garden Party A name of your choice on the board A donation of £1,000 or more Membership of the Friends until the end of the campaign A free ticket to the Garden Party A name of your choice on the board
Guild of Benefactors The members of the Guild of Benefactors have made a major contribution towards the 150th Anniversary Campaign. The names of the individuals who are Benefactors will be recorded permanently in the church building. They also receive the Benefactors Badge, as illustrated above. Annually, Benefactors will be invited to a special garden party in their honour. To become a Benefactor you need to give a donation of ÂŁ1,000 or more. We are offering those who pledge to give ÂŁ10 or more a month the chance to become full Benefactors. To be eligible we would ask you to set up a direct debit before December 2016 and not to cancel or reduce it before the end of the campaign. After December 2016 Benefactors must pledge ÂŁ1,000 or more by 2025. Please fill in the enclosed form or contact info@fosgc.org for more details.
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