Friends of Chantry
Update 2026
We’ve been able to hold a number of community events, and many more are planned for this year.
Back in 2019 we decided at a village meeting that we would secure the future of our local church, and the village would support the building in return for it to be available to use as a community space. After navigating the hurdles and approvals needed to adapt and improved the ( Grade 1 listed ) church building - we now have a great space available to us.
The Friends of Chantry have a number of events planned for 2026 - make sure to check the Events page regularly.
However, we need everyone's support to keep going. We can use the church building as a community space, in return for covering the operating costs. If every household in Chantry were to become a Friend of Chantry by contributing £10.00 per month - we could easily cover these costs. Many households are already contributing, and we hope that everyone will join and become a Friend of Chantry. Please see the bank account details in the footer below.
Woodwork cleaning and oiling at Holy Trinity
(weekend of 5th and 6th April)
Huge thanks to the Halecombe Quarry Community Fund who provided a grant to buy the materials and huge thanks to fabulous Friends of Chantry who gave their time and efforts to give the woodwork of the church a much needed beauty treatment. Pews, doors, lecterns and part of the organ were revived with specialist oils. Another step to maintaining our important community space.
Jottings from a country churchyard
Our churchyard of Holy Trinity is now the resting place of our beloved Hazel Tovey who used to write these jottings for us every month.
Hazel Gwendoline Tovey died March, Friday 13th aged 94 yrs. It snowed that morning. She passed peacefully holding a small wooden cross given by a friend. Her carer was there and a few minutes earlier had seen Hazel's eyes wide open (she had kept them closed for several weeks just nodding or shaking her head in answer to questions). When Hazel was asked if she was in pain she smiled and shook her head then in the loudest voice she had used for weeks, said "No I’m going home!”
Her funeral was held on April 7th and the day could not have been more beautiful or perfect for her. It was 20 degrees and the churchyard was bathed in sunshine, the wild flowers, in profusion, looked glorious. As she entered the church, no stately music or heavy chords were played - she had requested the song of the song thrush.
The church was packed with over 100 people - some standing at the back. Everyone stood to welcome her in. Martin Weymont her friend, and often times, vicar at the church, took the service. He lightened what may have been a sombre funeral by encouraging us to sing heartily. The choir, Opus III, who she had sung with for many years, filled the choir stalls and they swelled the singing of the hymns as well as performing …Go now in Peace. Valerie Rawlins aptly described Hazel’s long and humble life. Diana Kilmartin read ‘She is Gone’ and Dorothy Blacker read from scripture. Martin then asked for the congregation to add comments about her character - several responded with short stories and added to the general uplifting mood of the service, noting her as determined, kind, funny, caring, clever but at times feisty!
As she left to “Time to say Goodbye” we were left in no doubt that Hazel was still leading the way. Her coffin was gently placed in the ground and in place of soil being scattered on the top we were invited to put a feather or two, collected for years from all the parrots she had ever cared for. Her uniqueness and thoughtful ways will for ever be remembered by those who met her. Her phone calls and letters will be missed by all who knew her and her loss in Chantry and Holy Trinity Church will be felt for a very long time.
An anonymous writer once said that to measure someone’s worth, think:
"Not what did the sketch in the newspaper say,
But how many were sorry when he (she) passed away."
Jan Bramston
Join and support
Regular Planned Donations will help us with this ongoing project - a monthly payment of any amount by standing order - large or small - is encouraged.
A suggested payment of £10 per household will go a long way, but all contributions are helpful.
Friends of Chantry
Account number: 63798875
Sort code: 60 08 31
Gift Aid
If you choose to set up a Standing Order to Friends of Chantry, you can make your gift worth 25% more at no extra cost to you. Gift Aid allows charities to reclaim the tax paid on the donations of UK Taxpayers, which means we get more out of the money you give to us. If you are able to Gift Aid your donation, please click on the "Gift Aid Form" button to download - fill in and hand into Andrew Bramston at Orr Farm.
To learn more about Friends of Chantry and join us, email us
E-Mail: friendsofchantry@gmail.com
Andrew Bramston 07375 357871