St Andrew's church and its community have been outstanding performers in Ride + Stride over many years. The Trustees are delighted to have agreed unanimously to award the Morshead Trophy once again to Fontmell Magna.
View ChurchOne of my first tasks as the new Chairman of DHCT was to visit Frome St Quentin on the occasion of a formal presentation of a cheque to mark the grant made by DHCT for works of repair to the roof of that lovely church, parts of which go back to the 14th century.
That provided the opportunity to reflect on the objectives of DHCT in contemporary times. It is to assist in keeping churches in a satisfactory state and condition, so that they can provide a viable use for both community and spiritual purposes. Frome St Quentin provides an excellent example: as a small village it does not have a village hall or a pub, but the church is well used, and thus becomes a focus for community life and events. By making the roof watertight, and thus stopping the rain from coming in and causing inevitable subsequent issues of damp, the church can continue to be well used, whether for church services, musical events, or other functions.
There will be many challenges for DHCT in the near future. Building costs have increased; in some places diminishing congregations will require practical solutions to be found. But Dorset has a rich heritage in its churches, many of which call for support from bodies such as DHCT. There is much work to do to ensure DHCT can continue to provide that support, and much satisfaction all round when a project is well completed.