With the increasing cost of repairing and maintaining our historic churches, many parishes have established a Friends’ scheme. Such a scheme can enable a wider group of people to share the challenge of ensuring that their parish church building is in a reasonable state to hand over to the next generation. Many people have a great deal of good will towards their church building, especially in rural areas, and although they may not wish to contribute to the religious aspects of the church they may be willing to support part of their heritage. A Friends’ scheme is one way in which a parish church can encourage help of this kind from a wider community.
Useful information about Friends' Schemes can be found on the Church of England’s Parish Resources website