A visit and an unexpected donation

On Thursday 16th January I  was able, along with Rev. Sam Winney, Jean Points and Sue Reeve to be at the church to receive the Earl and Countess of Verulam and two of their friends, who had requested a visit to St Lawrence Church,  with the intention of viewing the family monuments (Harbottle / Grimston).  We made use of the knowledge gained by the Friends history team to produce their family tree and a chart of the various monuments. We added the 3 photos from the vestry over the correct monument stones. We also owned up to the helmet being stolen, which he took well and was impressed with the model replacement. I also explained to him that his uncle the 5th Earl had, in the 1950s paid for the improvements to the choir area including the pews. The Earl sat in the front choir pew and touchingly stroking the wood said that this must have been one of his uncle’s last projects! We presented him with the Village and Church history books and some photocopies of documents regarding the helmet.

Following the visit The Friends have received a donation of £1000 to be used on a project agreed with the PCC. He thanked us for an interesting visit.

Norma Barrow Chairman of the Friends