Surrey is one of the wealthiest counties in the UK but despite this there are some
areas of great deprivation.
Bishop Andrew says:
“The last few years have been a very challenging time for many in our
communities, faced as they are with the continuing impact of the cost-of-living
crisis and the psychological scarring of the Covid pandemic. In my weekly
travels around the Diocese, I have been impressed time and again by the
many ways in which our churches and schools have been looking to respond –
but have also noticed an increasing gap between the needs of the
communities and the ability of churches to respond to them. Both finances and
volunteers can end up stretched very thinly indeed.
The Bishop of Guildford’s Communities Fund is there to help bridge that gap,
providing grants to support parishes and other church-linked organisations to
reach out into the most challenged parts of our communities with the love of
Christ. Last year we made six grants totalling £21,000 to different projects
throughout the diocese, some of them featured below. We would have been
able to do considerably more, had a greater sum been raised through the Lent
Appeal and elsewhere, and we would love to be able to increase our
donations in 2024.
The BGCF is run entirely by willing volunteers, so its running costs are
negligible. Please could I encourage each one of us to consider making a one-
off gift this Lent, and parishes to take a special collection for the BGCF at
some point during this season?”
To find out more about the real need for support in our Diocese and to watch
some 2 minute videos about the groups supported, see the link below which also
gives an opportunity to donate online.
Alan Frame (Missions Champion)