17th March Quiz Night

Our Quiz night held on Friday the 17th March was to raise funds for our “Let there be Light” project. The 11 fittings presently lighting ( or not) our Church require urgently replacing as replacements tubular bulbs are unobtainable and we need as part of our “ECO-CHURCH” initiative energy efficient LED lights.

The present cost estimates for keeping the light fittings but adapting to LED lights is some £2,500 for materials, labour, and access equipment.

We are delighted to report that the Quiz was a ‘sell out’ with some 80 attendees. The event raised some £1,400 towards the lighting project . An amazing result.

So thank you to everyone that attended and helped make this a Fun and rewarding evening.

Look out for our next event !

If you feel able to make a Donation towards the new lighting please

Chairman Chris Shorter

7th June 2023 Presentation

FoStJ treasurer Mark Butcher, was able to pass a cheque for £2,500 to St John’s PCC Church Warden Carole Burtonwood, as a result of the various fund raising events, held by FoStJ for Church repairs, in the past few months.

Successful Quiz Night 17th March 2023

Our quiz night held at the St John’s Centre on the 17th March proved a great sussess with over 60 in attendance and 9 competing teams..

Over £900 was raised for the Charity. We look forward to next year’s event.

A big vote of thanks to our Pub Quizmaster Pete O’Donoghue

Re-dedication of the Merrow War Memorial 13 Nov 2022

Today, Memorial Sunday, we were able to witness the re-dedication of Merrow’s War Memorial after its reconstruction. The event was well attended on an appropriate Sunny day. It also was an opportunity to thank all those in the community that helped ‘The Friends of StJohns’ raise sufficient funds during the year for its repair.

Memorial Update

Re-erection of the War Memorial has taken place over the last few days this week.

Now cleaned and dry it looks magnificent once again in time for its re-dedication on Remembrance Day this year.

We would extend our grateful thanks to the stonemasons, Anstey & Stone of Farnham, for their co-operation and skill in achieving the Memorial’s restoration.

War Memorial Appeal – Great News

The Friends of StJohn’s (FoStJ)are delighted to report that the target of the Appeal for monies to repair the storm damaged War Memorial was reached this week !

The support from the Merrow Community and Church members has been amazing with well over 60 donations amounting to over £2,400. However, this week Guildford Borough Council, seeing how much effort had been made by the community, stepped into the breach and made a ‘Matched Fund’ donation of £1700 to take us to our target of £4,078 with a small surplus to allow for the total clean of the Memorial, not just its repair.

FosStJ would like to thank everyone for their generosity and commitment to the valuable community asset that is the War Memorial standing within the StJohn’s Churchyard.

Percy Lewis

We are pleased to record that Percy´s funeral on the 3rd May was very well attended.

At his service, our Rector Rona Stuart-Bourne, said that “Percy’s life was an extraordinary one…..it gave his family, friends and the whole community the opportunity to thank God for his service both during the war and more recently to veteran organisations…..Percy was also such an amazing part of our parish, rolling his sleeves up and doing work in the churchyard. He was tireless.”

He married wife May in 1952, with whom he is now buried in St John’s churchyard.

See also the Surrey Advertiser´s record of his passing. Click here