Stanford Le Hope, St Margaret's Church.

03 June, 2008

I received this e mail this week.

Dear Mr Featherstone,
 
I'm not sure if you are able to help me, but perhaps you may be able to point me in the right direction.
 
I am a member of the congregation of St Margaret's Church, the parish church of Stanford le Hope, in Essex.
I write on my own behalf, and am not representing the Church management.
 
The Church building has many historic links with the Fetherston and Fetherstonhaugh family and there are many commemoratives to them, in an area known as the Scratton Chapel.
 
The largest of these are two very large wall-mounted, stone monuments commemorating:
1. Sir Henry Fetherston, died 1746
2. Sir Heneage Fetherston died 1711 and his wife Frances, who died 1746.
 
These two memorials were removed from the wall last year for safety and repair reasons at a substantial cost to the Church.  The estimate for reinstalling them has risen alarmingly, from approximately £16,000 to £41,000 and as our church, like so many others, experiences financial difficulties,  and there is no funding available for this.  Therefore, there is now a debate as to whether the Church should replace them, and may chose to give them away.  
 
They are belong to the history of our Church, parts of which date back to 1180.  However, there are many who would prefer not to be involving the Church with such expense, so it seems highly likely that they will not return to us.
 
Is it likely that any branch of your organisation or contacts, would be able to assist us in any way?
 
Yours sincerely
 
Sheila Billins

Founder member Beryl Featherstone, who lives closest to the Church is co-ordinating some response. To put the amount needed into some context it would take each member giving around £260  to meet the sum needed.

If you have any suggestions which you think might help, we would be pleased to hear them please contact mailto:paul@featherstone.org?subject=St Margaret's

My own thoughts are that this Church and it's memorials are not just a history of the church itself but part of The County of Essex and England. The sad part is that the family line died out a long time ago (as far as we know). You can see images of the memorials on this site here and here. You can read about the church at it's web site it also has a download file available on it's history at http://www.smarg4god.org.uk/
I have spoken to the sender of the message and the church had raised the initial estimate within the Church, but the new sum is just beyond their capabilities without some help