Community

LoveFetcham Week 2024

LoveFetcham is a group of people who simply want to show Fetcham some love as many ways as possible. Everyone is welcome to join in loving the community whether you have lots of time to offer or only a little.

Following the success of last year’s LoveFetcham Week we once again concentrated a week of activities from Saturday 30 March to Monday 8 April 2024 including helping at Oakfield Junior School sensory garden, Fetcham Village Infant School, litter picking and an Easter Trail around the village.

LoveFetcham has been initiated by members of St Mary’s Church, but you do not need to belong to any church or have a faith in order to be involved.

If you want to show your community some love, why not be part of LoveFetcham?  To find out more information, please contact Julie Partridge : julie@stmarysfetcham.org.uk

Community Coffee Shop

The Community Coffee Shop is a relaxed place to for a hot drink and something sweet. Meet friends for a chat and make new ones.

Mondays – St Mary’s Church Hall (off the Ridgeway) running alongside the Community Fridge every week (not Bank Holidays), 9 – 11:30am.

Thursdays – John Rumble Room (the back hall) at Fetcham Village Hall during school term time, 9 – 11:00am.

There’s a small play area for babies and toddlers.

Bereavement Café

Bereavement has been even more difficult than usual through the recent pandemic and we are aware that there are a lot of people struggling alone. 

The Bereavement Café is running every first Wednesday of the month, 10-11.30 in the church hall. 

If you know people you feel would benefit from a friendly supportive environment and a chance to chat with other bereaved folk, then do feel free to invite them to come along.

Afternoon Tea

We welcome the elder people in the community to come along to our Church Hall to enjoy tea, chat and occasional entertainment on the last Saturday of the month.

Please sign up here or contact the Parish Office on 01372 375000 or email office@stmaryfetcham.org.uk

Please do share with friends and neighbours who you think would benefit from enjoying the afternoon.

We look forward to enjoying your company.

Thursday Morning Coffee

We meet on the 3rd Thursday of the month and you are very  welcome to join us for a cuppa and a chat. 

There is also an informal NHS hearing aid clinic where you can receive basic maintenance or change batteries.

Please join us either after the 10am Holy Communion service, or just come along to the hall.  

Bothy Garden

The Bothy Garden volunteer group started in 2010. 

We are a small and enthusiastic local group keen to promote the benefits to the community of gardening together. Typically, the volunteers meet 6 times a year and we aim to meet outdoors between May and November, as well as undertaking some ‘outreach’ events in the local community.  

Newcomers and visitors are always welcome, whether with lots of gardening experience or none.

If you would like more information contact the Parish Office on office@stmarysfetcham.org.uk

ECO Church

Eco Church is an initiative run by a Christian charity called A Rocha to help us focus on how we can each care for God’s wonderful gift of creation and our fellow human beings. Our small team of spent a few months looking at what environmental activities we are already doing at St Mary’s and how we can improve which covers five key areas of church life: Worship and teaching, Management of church buildings, Management of church land, Community and global engagement, and Lifestyle. We are currently working towards the Silver award, and we still have plenty to do to get there. For more details on the scheme see https://ecochurch.arocha.org.uk/

Since the launch we have been working on some areas of improvement and we received the Bronze Eco Church Award in 2019. We improved the recycling facilities and re installed the recycling bin as well as providing extra recycling for crisp packet and biscuit wrappers and improving the signage

We completed a wildlife survey of the churchyard in 2020 as part of developing a churchyard management plan. The churchyard already supports significant native species and we are looking at ways this could be improved whilst maintaining safety, good access and keeping the areas tidy.

Fetcham United Charities

You might know us better through either Morley Court or the Reading Room (both are at the end of River Lane and managed by the trust).  The charity has its origins from the wills of two local landowners, Henry Smith (died 1627) and George Shiers (died 1685), both of whom are commemorated by plaques in the church (Shiers in the porch, and Smith by the bell ropes), which were amalgamated with other bequests in 1918 to form Fetcham United Charities.

The Reading Room was built in 1885, to enable workers in the parish to meet and socialise – “educated ladies” of the village were in attendance, to read newspapers and letters to those workers who were unable to read for themselves. The Reading Rooms is available for private hire and is a wonderful space to meet regularly or for children’s parties.

Morley Court is home to ten residents, all of whom are of retirement age and with a link to the Mole Valley area, while the Reading Room is available for local organisations such as painting or exercise groups, children’s parties, and similar events. 

The charity is run by a team of volunteer trustees, three of whom are appointed by the Rector, and three by Mole Valley District Council, plus up to five co-opted members appointed by the trustees themselves.  Although Morley Court residents must be able to look after themselves, the charity does have an important role of pastoral care.

To find out more visit : www.fetchamunitedcharities.org