We have raised over £1m to save St Leonard’s and to engage people with its unique heritage. The National Lottery Heritage Fund has committed some £750,000 as a result of our successful first and second round bids, and we’ve committed £280,000 of matched funding from other funds and trusts and the local community. Because of a tragedy in the village in 2019, and the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, our annual Scarecrow Festival to raise money for the village charities has had to be cancelled for two years in a row. So we continue to make applications to funds, trusts and other organisations to help with cash-flow during the project, as well as other general maintenance. People within the village and in the local area are also organising fundraising events.
Please consider making a donation to saving St Leonard’s through our Friends’ online giving page.
If your organisation can assist our project to save St Leonard’s, please use our contact page.
This summary gratefully acknowledges the financial commitment and matched funding support received so far:
Matched funding raised in 2017: £39,560 2018: £102,465 2019: £76,482
Fundraising events organised by Flamstead Villagers in 2020
Flamstead Children’s Village Show due to be held 12th September 2020
Support from funds and trusts 2020
The Wolfson Foundation: £5,000 to assist with matched funding for the essential repair work
National Lottery Community Fund: £5,700 Covid emergency funding to assist with maintenance bills during lockdown
Fundraising events organised by Flamstead Villagers in 2019
Flamstead Autumn Fayre organised by Friends of St Leonard’s raised £1,700
Flamstead Church fete in June 2019 raised £2,000 from sales of cakes, plants and other items
Support from individuals and other organisations 2019
Flamstead residents continue to make generous contributions by honouring their pledges
The Freemasons have made a further generous donation of £250 towards the church roof
Support from funds and trusts 2019
Application made to Wolfson Trust / Church Care – awaiting outcome
Support from educational establishments and businesses 2019
We came third in Ashton’s Life’s Great Causes and shared £2,000 50:50 with Wish Tree: £1,000
2019 so far: £4,950 raised and £71,532 pledges collected
Fundraising events organised by Flamstead Villagers in 2018
Flamstead Scarecrow Festival: £21,430 – respect to Clare Rudd & her team, plus all scarecrow builders
Flamstead Book Festival: raised £2,000 – grateful thanks to Vikki Orvice, Mary Jenkin and the team
Concert with St George’s choir and Harpenden Musicale: raised £500 for the Friends of St Leonard’s
The St Leonard’s Parish Supper, February 2018: surplus raised £2,035 for the Friends of St Leonard’s
Flamstead Church Fete, June 2017: £2,140 from cakes, teas, plants, competitions, games and other sales
Flamstead Girl Guides, July 2017: £225 generously donated from a variety of fun activities
Support from individuals and other organisations 2018
Beechwood Park School: £4,375 raised by teachers & pupils in events including a Fun Run – thank you!
The fantastic Just A Capella choir from Hemel Hempstead gave freely of their time to “Sing at our Supper”
Generous pledges from Flamstead residents: a really moving response to our plea for matched funding
Gift of £400 from the Harpenden Freemasons Lodge: which also donated to Beds&Herts Church Trust
Support from funds and trusts 2018
H.B. Allen Charitable Trust: an incredibly generous donation of £50,000 towards repair costs
Cllr Terry Douris from Herts County, Mar 2018: £360 from his Locality budget to help develop our HLF bid
The Jarvis (Harpenden) Charitable Trust, Jul 2018: a generous donation of £4,000 to FoSL
Support from educational establishments and businesses 2018
We came top in the “Life’s Great Causes” charity poll run by Ashtons and won £5,000 for the roof fund
Beechwood Park School Parents Association, Jul 2018: a wonderful donation of £10,000 to FoSL
2018 total: £102,465 raised and £78,260 promised in pledges
Fundraising events organised by Flamstead Villagers in 2017
The St Leonard’s Parish Supper, February 2017: surplus raised £1,500 for the Friends of St Leonard’s
Music Society event, May 2017: raised £625 as a donation to the Friends of St Leonard’s
Flamstead Book Festival June 2017: raised £1,100 for the Friends of St Leonard’s
Flamstead Church Fete, June 2017: £2,000 from cakes, teas, plants, competitions, games and other sales
Flamstead Scarecrow Festival August 2017: £8,300 donated to the Friends of St Leonard’s
Balloon Release and Churchyard Challenge: donations totalling £690 towards the costs of the project
Flamstead Preschool Fish & Chip Quiz night: donated £500 to cost of roof repairs
Guest dinner party at Spotted Dog: Cllr Jane Timmis and friends donated £860 to the roof fund
Winter Flower Festival: Organised by Jackie Scopes and team, 57 floral arrangers, raised over £15,000
Beechwood Park School Christmas Fayre: Alison Menzies raised £107 from sale of books
Flamstead Preschool Festive Concert: OVO and Food of Love donated £365 to the roof fund.
Support from individuals and other organisations 2017
Personal donation: a generous £10,000 pledge from a Flamstead resident towards the costs of advice
West Herts Society of change ringers: a donation of £425 raised during their quiz night
St Helen’s, Wheathampstead / Alexander L’Estrange: £200 from sale of Wassail! CDs at “Carols & Capers”
Support from funds and trusts 2017
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Churches Trust: a pledge of £15,000 for repairs to the roof
All Churches Trust: a grant of £1,000 towards the costs of investigating the current state of the roof
National Churches Trust: a grant of £7,000 towards the cost of investigating the current state of the roof
Support from educational establishments and businesses 2017
University College Oxford (our Lay Rector): a pledge of £5,000 for repairs to the roof
Beechwood Park School: has adopted the Flamstead Heritage Project as its combined charity for 2017/18
Expenditure on church roof
We invested £30,440 on: temporary repairs to the roof and a detailed wood-rot survey and repair costings
2017 total: £39,560 net raised and £10,000 promised in a pledge
A sincere thank-you to everyone who has contributed so far.
Andrew Lambourne
Heritage Project Director
The St Leonard’s Parochial Church Council is a registered charity, number 1179567.