St Mary and St Giles

Pipe Organ Fund Appeal

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Fundraising

Funds raised so far:

During 2006 when the organ fund was launched, we held several local events, each of which raised a creditable sum of money. However some urgent repairs to the organ meant that all of those funds were swallowed up. We are now redoubling our efforts to raise the necessary money before any further costly running repairs are required and the funds are invested in a savings account gathering interest.

In 2007 we succeeded in raising over £12,200.00 though events, donations and pipe sponsorship (the scheme was launched during 2007).

Successful past events:

2006
August	Garden tea Party
August	Organ Recital on the Willis organ by Jonathan Kingston (of Stowe School)
September	Concert by St Mary and St Giles Band
October	Autumn Concert by the Parish Singers and the Band
December	Tombola and produce stall at Christmas Fayre as part of the annual switching on of Stony Stratford Christmas Lights day raised over £400
2007
28 January	Sunday Lunch and Raffle raised £440
17 March	St Mary and St Giles Band Concert raised £259.58
21 April	Organ Recital by Jonathan Kingston (Stowe School). 7.30 pm in St Mary and St Giles Church, Stony Stratford. Retiring collection and Raffle raised £686.83. Light refreshments served.
3 June (Sunday)	Vivant concert in St Mary & St Giles Church at 7.30 pm. Clive Williams and Mark Prescott play traditional acoustic music (French waltzes and mazurkas, English song tunes and hymn music) on violin and melodeon. Retiring collection for the organ fund raised £100. Light refreshments served. (This concert was part of Stony Live week)
5 June (Tuesday)	Lunchtime weekday concert by some members of SMSG band. 12.30 pm for 45 minutes, audience were invited to bring their sandwiches and listen while they ate. Retiring collection for the organ fund raised £146.75. Tea and coffee were served. (This concert was part of Stony Live week)
10 June (Sunday)	Organ fund stall at Folk on the Green, Horsefair Green, Stony Stratford raised £100.
11 June (Monday)	Lecture by Sandy Kidd, County Archaeologist: Christians and Pagans in Buckinghamshire: The Archaeology of Ritual and Religion from Prehistory to the Middle Ages. 7.30 pm in St Mary and St Giles CE Junior School, King George’s Crescent, Stony Stratford. Retiring collection raised £133. Tea and Coffee were served.
15 July (Sunday)	Three course Sunday Lunch and Raffle. 12.30 pm in Russell Street First School, Stony Stratford. Tickets £10.00 each. Waitrose provided the Gammon (main course) for free. Once again a sellout and very enjoyable event with lovely food which made a good profit for the fund (£483 + £65 on the raffle).
30 August (Thursday)	Lunchtime weekday concert by members of SMSG band. 12.30 pm for 45 minutes, audience were invited to bring their sandwiches and listen while they ate. Retiring collection for the organ fund raised £103. Tea and coffee were served.
4 October (Thursday)	Lunchtime weekday concert by members of SMSG band. 12.30 pm for 45 minutes, audience were invited to bring their sandwiches and listen while they ate. Retiring collection for the organ fund raised £134.56. Tea and coffee were served.
4 Nov (Sunday)	2.30 pm annual Autumn Concert - Parish Singers, SMSG Band, Handbells, Children's choir and band (variety of music, secular and sacred). Free entry, retiring collection for the organ fund raised £208.21. Tea and coffee were served.
1 Dec (Saturday)	10.00 am - 4.00 pm Giant Tombola, Chutney, Crafts and good quality secondhand baby equipment for sale in the Church as part of the Christmas Fair was held on Switch on of Christmas Lights Day in Stony Stratford. Grand total raised £477.48.
9 December (Sunday)	Three course 'Christmas' Sunday Lunch and Raffle. 12.30 pm in Russell Street First School, Stony Stratford. Tickets £15.00 each as this was a special Christmas version with crackers. Waitrose provided the Turkey (main course) for free. Once again a sellout and very enjoyable event with lovely food which made a good profit for the fund (£750 + £106.50 on the raffle).
9 December (Sunday)	7.30 pm Milton Keynes Youth Choir conducted by David Kirby-Ashmore sang a selection of Music for Advent and other pieces in St Mary & St Giles Church. Entrance was by programme (in advance from organ fund group members or on the door), £6.50 (adults), £4.50 (over 60s, students and 5-15s), this very enjoyable concert raised £215.60 after expenses.
15 December (Saturday)	3.00 pm - 5.00 pm Parish Singers, Handbells and SMSG Band played in Middleton Hall, MK Shopping Centre. Total raised £148.41.
2008
21 February (Thursday)	Lunchtime weekday concert by members of SMSG band. 12.30 pm for 45 minutes, audience were invited to bring their sandwiches and listen while they ate. Retiring collection for the organ fund raised £131.93. Tea and coffee were served.
16 March (Palm Sunday)	6.00 pm, Lent Cantata by the Parish Singers, with the Organ in St Mary & St Giles Church. The Crucifixion by John Stainer was performed as a devotional piece (though not part of a service). It was an opportunity to hear the organ play outside of normal servicesand was not a fundraising event.
19th April (Saturday)	7.30 pm, St Mary & St Giles Band and Handbell ringers Concert, in St Mary & St Giles Church, Stony Stratford. Retiring collection and Raffle raised £246.48.
7 June (Saturday)	"The Golden Spot" Tombola at the Church Summer Fete raised £115.50.

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