MESSAGE FROM REVEREND JANE WALKER, VICAR

As the years pass, there seems no end to humanity’s inability to live and work for peace, and thus the world is a much less stable and an increasingly unsafe place in which to live. All the violence and wars are causing people to suffer and even flee from their countries, increasing homelessness and helplessness, which would be much worse without charitable support. So many amazing charities are doing their utmost to give relief from starvation, shelter, critical health care and essential support, often in hazardous conditions. All charities are under huge stress to raise funds to meet this increasing need.

In the Benefice of Frensham, we can give financial assistance when a charity is struggling because we have a ‘charity that supports charities’ – St Mary’s Frensham Trust. Charitable giving is an essential Christian responsibility and a key action of this Church. The Church’s overall Christian purpose is to follow the example of Jesus Christ, generously sharing God’s inclusive love and care with everyone (irrespective of colour, creed, culture, etc). We do this prayerfully, directly and actively by supporting certain key charities, but we have the ability to spread the net of God’s Love and Grace further by financially helping other charities to use their many and diverse skills for those in need.

Therefore, St. Mary’s Frensham Trust supports local, national and international charities that are nominated by those on our church electoral roll, who have a passion and connection with those charities and the service they provide. Due to the careful investment and management of its capital funds, year-on-year, St Mary’s Frensham Trust can confidently and reassuringly give grants to many and diverse charities, which in turn can help to ease suffering and stress. It is the Trustees’ privilege and delight to share funds from this ‘charity that supports charities’, knowing that through its Christian foundations, it will remain efficient, robust and faithful to its original covenant aims of giving generously. We pray that this will bring as much relief, goodness, kindness, love, hope and peace, as is possible.

February 2026