News Going greehn


MAIDSTONE Borough Council has launched a new initiative, Go GreenGoWild,which is designed to connect the communitywith na- ture and its green spaces. MBCwants to provide informa-


tion, contacts, advice and inspira- tion which helps individuals, groups, schools and businesses to encourage and look after nature. Activities range from nurturing


a large green space, creatingponds or planting boxes, to litter picking or creating your own bug hotel. Aspokesman said: “We can cre-


ate wildlife corridors throughout our borough tohelpnature thrive.”


Voice for Life


AMAIDSTONE choirmaster is of- fering parishioners the chance to get qualificationswhile they sing. Andrew Williamson, of All


Saints,wantsmembers of the con- gregation to enrol in NVQ-style training and assessment courses at theMill Street church. Choristers andwould-be choris-


ters can sign up forVoice for Life – a series of qualifications endorsed by the Royal School of Church Music. For details, email office.all- saintsmaidstone@gmail.com


downsmail.co.uk


Parish’s historic debt wri�en offbydiocese


CHURCH leaders have written off aMaidstoneparish’shistorical debt to the tune of £160,000. TheDiocese ofCanterbury broke


the news to the churches of All Saints, St Philip and St Stephen at the end of lastmonth. The announcementwasmade by


Bishop of Dover, the Right Rev TrevorWillmott,whowas in town on January 27 to lead services. Parishpriest, theRev IanParrish,


said: “This came totally out of the blue and is great news.” The parish went into the red


years ago when it was unable to raise sufficient funds to meet the diocese’s expectations. Today, despite bucking the na-


tional trend of declining congrega- tions, and pioneering outreach work withMaidstone schools and charities, the parish has needed to work flat-out to pay the bills. Parish treasurerLionelMarchant


toldDownsMail: “Allparishespay money into the diocese to keep it


ticking over. This is known as the Parish Share. “Anumber of years agowewere


not able to pay the total Parish Share and we went into debt with the diocese. Since then, we’ve not only been paying our Parish Share in full, butwe’ve also been paying a bitmore to settle our debt. “The diocese looked at what we


were trying to do to get rid of this debt and decided towrite it off.” The Parish Share, which is used


The Right Rev Trevor Willmott, Bishop of Dover with the Reverend Ian Parrish and treasurer Lionel Marchant


to pay for clergy, ministry and charitywork, is just one in a series of costs faced by the three Maid- stone and Tovil churches. Medieval All Saints, a Grade I


listed building in Mill Street, spends £8,000 a year on heating bills alone. This level of cost has prompted parishes across the country to question the viability of relying on grants, legacies and the collection tray to guarantee the up- keep of these ancient buildings.


A personal service at a time of loss


Michael Lawrence, and his son Robert along with Kim and Angela, are the team behind a family-owned funeral service that has been helping families across the Maidstone area for 40 years.


With offices in Bearsted and Barming, Family Funeral Service is a third generation business, experienced in caring for your needs with commitment and understanding.


At such a stressful time, they know it’s important to sit and talk to you about every detail and to assist you in making the often


Ashford Road, Bearsted, PW


4 Cavendish W y, Maidstone ME15 8


a 01622 260200 12 Maidstone March 2019


difficult decisions about how best to remember a loved one and to meet their personal wishes. With so many years’ experience, Family


Funeral Service has learned how to respond to the specific and different needs of every individual facing one of the toughest times in their life. This personalised approach includes the option of home visits and access to a friendly voice at the end of the phone around the clock, as well as personal support to clients through the bereavement process.


Michael Lawrence said: "The loss of a loved


one is never easy to cope with, and the added stress of making arrangements for the service can often bring further emotional upset. With our experience of making funeral arrangements we have learned how to help families have and be part of a unique and meaningful service that


Find us at: Marlborough Parade, 6 Beverley Road, Barming Maidstone ME16 9JN


01622 260210


celebrates life. "Our approach is simple. We sit with you in our


office or your home, taking you slowly and methodically through the various decisions that you will face and the options available to you. Sometimes, it’s just good to sit and talk, and to learn about the services and venues available from someone with experience and compassion before making a decision.”


Funeral Planner Of The Year 2018 South East London Region Winner


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48