THE WARDOUR CHAPEL TRUST

HOOK MANOR DONHEAD ST ANDREW SHAFTESBURY DORSET SP7 9EU

Telephone: 01747 828 423 Email: info@wardourchapel.co.uk

Friends of Wardour Chapel

The Catholic Chapel of All Saints Wardour, built in the late 18th century by the 8th Lord Arundell of Wardour to the designs of James Paine and John Soane, is arguably the most important neoclassical Catholic chapel in England. It has been owned by a trust (Charity Registration Number 224234) since 1898 and is entirely dependent on donations as no endowment was made when the trust was established. Over recent years, financial constraints have prevented the trustees from undertaking any significant maintenance tasks. However, some things cannot be put off any longer, and the trustees have therefore decided to establish The Friends of Wardour Chapel with the simple aim of generating an annual income which will help us to achieve the task of keeping this great chapel open for worship. The annual running costs of the chapel, before maintenance, are in the region of 15,000 and it is becoming increasingly clear that these costs are beyond the resources of the local Catholic congregation. The Friends program seeks to raise funds towards these costs, for identified building and repair projects, and to build a sinking fund for future works. Currently the chapel is open to the public twice a week and is in regular use as an important part of the parish of Tisbury and Wardour. Mass is celebrated every Sunday (11am) and Tuesday (9.15am). In addition, there is a thriving Catholic state primary school at Wardour, and the pupils attend the Tuesday Mass during term time. It is of great benefit to the students of the school to be
Trustees: The Hon Richard Arundell Lord Talbot of Malahide The Hon Veronica Hodges Richard Berkley-Matthews Jenny Tozer Wardour Chapel Trust - Charity Registration Number 224234

able to experience this magnificent building and its treasures as a regular part of their Catholic education, and it is therefore of on-going significance to the spiritual life of the local Catholic community. The chapel, which seats approximately 200, is also available for baptisms, weddings and funerals by arrangement with the parish priest. In addition to the fabric of the building, the Wardour Chapel Trust is responsible for the very fine contents of the chapel and the sacristy: vestments, silver and several large and notable continental paintings. All this is in increasing need of conservation work. The trustees believe that these items should remain at the chapel, to be used as intended by those who made and gave them, rather than be added to a museum collection. However, ongoing conservation and repairs are essential. As a Friend of Wardour Chapel, you will be invited to the annual Friends Open Day on the Saturday nearest to 1st November the Chapels patronal feast of All Saints as well as to other events which we hope to arrange at other times of the year. The Open Day will begin with Holy Mass for those who wish to attend, offered for the intentions of the Friends past and present. Some of the important ecclesiastical silver and the extraordinary collection of vestments, with their outstanding late medieval embroidered orphreys, will be on display. This collection of vestments is one of the most significant in the country. The Open Day will also provide the opportunity to listen to the wonderful organ, built for the chapel in 1791 by Samuel Green. The Chapel will also be available to Friends by appointment. The Friends of Wardour Chapel is being established to provide you with the opportunity to help in a material way to ensure that this Grade I listed chapel remains an active place of Catholic worship for future generations. We are therefore writing to ask whether you would consider helping us to achieve this by becoming a Friend: membership costs 8 per month or, for those who prefer, 95 per year, payable by standing order. A membership form, and additional information, can be found in the enclosed leaflet. I would be very pleased to provide any further information.

Richard Arundell Chairman of Trustees, Wardour Chapel Trust

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