The chairs cost 30 shillings, £1.50 in todays decimal currency and the cost was not in the original budget so the idea was formed that parishioners should donate a chair by subscribing 30 shillings. This was carried over to the begging letters and cleverly incorporated into an invitation to the dedication of St Marks. At last I can say that the building work was sufficiently completed to enable the dedication to take place on St Marks day, 25th April 1957. First up is the letter to the Patron, followed by Lord Wimborne - again!
From Charlewood
To E E Prideaux-Brune
Dear Mr Prideaux-Brune
You will have heard that our new Hall/Church is to be dedicated in honour of St Mark on Thursday the 25th April. We should all be delighted if our Patron could be present at so important an occasion in the Parish of West Parley and we hope that youwill be able to come.
At the moment we are faced with the problem of furnishing the building and various gifts have been received from Friends of West Parley. Some Friends have subscribed towards the provision of chairs in units of 30 shillings
Yours Charlewood Sec P C C
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Letter dated 19 March 1957 To Lord Wimborne From Charlewood Dear Lord Wimborne I feel sure that it will interest you to learn that our new Hall/Church is to be dedicated on the 25th April in honour of St Mark. Should Your Lordship be able to attend this service it would give great pleasure to the Rector of West Parley and to every "Friend of West Parley" while it would be appreciated if you could let me know whether this is possible. The hall is designed to seat 200 and has a sanctuary at its east end and a stage with two dressing rooms, which can be used as commmittee rooms or classrooms, at the west end. The building also includes a kitchen and two cloakrooms. We are now faced with the problem of furnishing the hall and various gifts have been received from our Friends. Some Friends have subscribed towards the provision of chairs in units of 30 shillings. Yours Charlewood Secretary P C C |
A brief note was received from Mr Prideaux-Brune saying that he could attend the dedication and, more importantly "I enclose a cheque for £10 to help pay for the furniture of the building". Lord Wimborne was, unfortunately, unable to attend the dedication "but sends his cheque for £5 and hopes it may help in equipping the building".
No brick was left unturned in efforts to raise funds
To G A Head Messrs Chas Mitchell & Sons Ltd Downton Salisbury
From Charlewood
Dear Mr Head
West Parley - Hall/Church
I understand that bricks used in the construction of our new hall were suppied by your firm and therefore expect that youwill be interested to hear that the Hall/church is to be dedicated in honour of St. Mark by the Bishop of Sherborne on Thursday the 25th April at 7 p.m. I am to add that the Rector and Churchwardens of West Parley would be pleased if youcould attend the service of Dedication.
Yours Charlewood Sec P C C
Mr Head was pleased to attend but sent no donation. Charlewood must have been very busy that day and he forgot to put in the bit about the cost of the chairs. Be thankful for word processors and templates.
Finally there were the Friends of West Parley
From The Rector
To Friends of West Parley
Dear Friend of West Parley
Towards the end of the year 1955 we formed the "Guild of Friends of West Parley", one of its stated objects being the provision of a building within the parish for the worship of God and the normal social functions associated with a church.
This object is almost completed and at 7 pm on 25 April 1957 - St. Marks Day - the Bishop of Sherborne has consented to dedicate it in honour of the Saint.
We all want our Friends to be with us on that day, and this letter should be read as a cordial invitation to yourself.
There will be a certain number of reserved seats and you may have one or more if application is made now. So may I have the privilege of receiving just a post card saying you would like to join us, and the tickets will be sent you in due course.
Yours sincerely Rector
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