Turvey without its church? - Unimaginable! Well, yes, but most of us expect our church to be there - be it for a baptism, a wedding or a funeral or just somewhere to visit when we feel like it - an integral part of our village.

Just as the maintenance of our own homes has to be paid for, so too does the maintenance of our church. And this is why a charitable trust in the name of "The Friends of All Saints, Turvey" has been created - its sole purpose being to raise funds for the maintenance and preservation of our parish church.

All Saints, Turvey is a fine example of English church architecture and features in the recently published "England's Thousand Best Churches" by Simon Jenkins of which he says, "These churches were and still are glorious. I regard them as a dispersed gallery of vernacular art... without equal anywhere in the world".

Sadly though, woodworm, dry rot, deathwatch beetle and the elements are no respecters of vernacular or any other art and All Saints' is no exception. In 1999/2000 remedial work to the chancel roof was necessary to repair the ravages of deathwatch beetle and the architect's inspection in 2000 has highlighted more urgent problems.

We need at least £100,000 to repair existing damage and to provide for future, as yet, unidentified contingencies. If we achieve that, we will have gone a long way towards ensuring the future of All Saints.

We don't need to profess the Christian, or indeed any other faith to appreciate the beauty of All Saints' church and its relevance to the village and its inhabitants. To quote Simon Jenkins again, "Nor should any parish church forget that it owes its splendour to the love, labour and taxes not just of today's Anglicans but its whole community through history…".

This appeal is directed at everyone who values the presence of All Saints, Turvey - present and past inhabitants of the village, those who have come from elsewhere to use it for weddings, baptisms, funerals and the casual visitor who has come to admire its splendour.

All Saints' has welcomed us all and our ancestors down through the centuries. Now it is our turn to put something back and give financial support to the preservation of our Church for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.

Please help by sending a donation, however large or small to:

The Treasurer,
F.A.S.T.
10 Barncroft,
Turvey,
BEDFORD MK43 8DN

Please make cheques payable to "Friends of All Saints, Turvey".