It costs nearly £70,000 a year to run St Mary's including routine repairs, heating and lighting and all our many activities. In addition, the church has undergone many repairs and facelifts over the years, including on-going work to the roof and the provision of proper pavements to make easier access to the building.

Rather than being just reactive to these situations, and to ensure that the church can continue to provide the central home to the village, a Trust has been established to set aside money purely for repairs and upkeep of the St Mary's church building and the churchyard - to both cover the inevitable rainy days and to enable proactive improvements to happen. The Trustees represent both the Parochial Church Council and the Parish Council as the church building is there for everyone - supporting both those who regularly worship and those who only occasionally attend.

In addition to supporting the current projects to improve the bells, windows and the clock, the Trustees are keen to support the development of the rear of the church to make it more welcoming for village groups to use in meeting and activities, and to support the variety of events that are now being held in the church.

If you would like any more information about the Trust or to contribute to the upkeep of the church, please feel free to contact Jeff Thompson

The Friends of St Mary's Balcombe Trust is a registered charity (registration number: 1114987).