Charity and Missions - St Wilfrid's, Brayton

Brayton Poors

These are two ancient charities distributing money for the poor of the village.  The first is looked after by the Rector and the second by the Rector and Churchwardens.  As there are few poor people in the village the money is distributed in vouchers to elderly residents and, on occasions, the hospital at Christmas time.  There is a Secretary who deals with the administration.

Leprosy Mission

We have a member of the congregation whose task is to raise awareness with church members of the work of the Leprosy Mission. This has been done in many ways and also raised money for the Mission. We recognise World Leprosy Mission Day either with using articles in a church service, using special prayers and following the service having a cake sale.The Sunday school have been involved and recently organised a “bring and buy” sale for the Leprosy Mission and the children have been saving used stamps and collecting money.

There is a box for collecting used postage stamps at the back of the church and we have held garden parties and other fund raising events. Christmas cakes have been made and sold with the profit to the Mission. Profit from free tickets on a theatre trip to York including a raffle made £200.

Some church members have collecting boxes at home and others make regular donations and our coordinator for the Region organised a family festival last year which was very successful and is planning another one this year; we were involved in the festival last year.

Copies of "New Day" are available and the Mission also provides posters for us when needed.

Mission Mbabane

Swaziland is an independent kingdom of South Africa, and Mbabane is the capital city. It is an extremely poor country which has been devastated by the Aids virus.  Education there is not free. The Revd Jack Dobson, who has lived in Mbabane for many years, set up a Bursary scheme which would help pay the school fees for those children whose parents or guardians were too poor to pay.Our links with Mission Mbabane came through the Revd. Ken Manners who has known Jack Dobson since school days in Northumberland.

St. Wilfrid’s and Barlow churches have supported the Mission for 16 years.  There are about 20 regular supporters who have in the last year contributed £553.  The PCC also gives an annual donation of £250 which is index-linked.

We receive a financial statement twice yearly, but could do with more personal information about the schools and children to help with fundraising.

Christian Aid

Members of the congregation, along with Methodist church members help with the house to house collection for Christian Aid.

Children’s Society

Children’s Society is supported by the Christingle service and raises a considerable sum each year with the support of children from the local schools.

Charity of the Month

Each month the congregation is invited to contribute to a charity chosen by the Rector.  This has included major national charities such as the Pakistan Earthquake Appeal as well as more local charities.