The Lodge of Benevolence has a long history of supporting local and national charities. Here are details of some of our most recent charitable donations.
East of the Water Foodbank
Our new Worshipful Master and his wife volunteer with a local food bank. They became aware of several families with children who were suffering extreme hardship and could not afford presents or any modest Christmas celebration. This was brought to the attention of a group of lodge members who made a collection and organised Christmas food hampers and gifts for their children to open on the day. Here are anonymised letters of thanks:
“I would like to express my sincere thanks to your organisation for the fantastic hamper that you delivered at Christmas. I felt very humble to receive this . My daughter, granddaughter and myself thoroughly enjoyed it , my granddaughter was thrilled with her toy . There was only a couple of things that we don’t eat which I passed on to my elderly neighbour as she was expecting guests at Christmas time . Thank you again “.
Resident, Pynes Lane
Dear everyone at Bideford Masonic Lodge ,
“Just a little note to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the absolutely amazing fresh and ambient hamper you kindly gifted to myself and my two boys , it was such a kind gesture and was really appreciated by us all and certainly made our Christmas merry and bright. We have had a rough four months as I am a single mum working full time to provide for my children and pay the mortgage and unfortunately I was struck down by illness.
We are now looking forward to the future as the hard times have hopefully passed.
Wishing you all a very happy and healthy new year and thanks once more for your kindness”.
North Devon Gastrointestinal Support Group:
“The aims of the Group are to help and support existing and new patients and their families with difficulties arising as a result of diagnosis and treatment of upper gastrointestinal cancers. We support each other both patients and carers/families before and after surgery, through Chemotherapy/Radiotherapy and the drastic effects it can have on life and relationships. We are able to share our thoughts and worries with confidence that confidentiality will be respected”
Harbour Bideford:
Harbour is a Charity set up in 2010 in Bideford to promote social inclusion and integration for the public benefit through the provision of support services and relief of needs to the unemployed, homeless, vulnerable, those suffering with ill health or financial hardship and the socially disadvantaged and isolated individuals who live in and around the Torridge area. Harbour offers human contact and the basic needs of food, warmth, provisions, and support where everyone is accepted at their point of need and all in a safe and non-judgmental environment.
Harbour has also begun to look at groups of people who are disadvantaged or isolated living on the fringes of our community but may not feel comfortable or able to visit our Queen Street premises.
St Helen’s Church, Abbotsham:
St Helen’s is one of four churches in the Torridge Coastal Mission Community which serves the northern part of the Torridge area. Our church provides a traditional form of worship not only for residents of Abbotsham but also for people beyond the parish borders. There are currently 34 people on the Electoral Roll of which roughly half live outside the parish. The church has a strong, active partnership with the adjacent primary school which has been nurtured and enhanced over recent years.
The church was built in the 13th century and is a Grade 2* listed building. It has a number of important architectural features including a fine carved wooden reredos installed in 1921, an impressive wagon roof dating from the 15th century, 39 pews with richly decorated bench ends, an elegant set of misericords in the chancel and a beautiful Norman font. The church also boasts some handsome Victorian stained-glass windows. The tower is constructed of stone and has three floors. The belfry is situated on the second floor with the ringers’ chamber on the first floor. The church has a peal of six bells, one of which was cast in 1385 and is believed to be the oldest in the county. The ground floor of the tower houses basic kitchen facilities including the building’s only sink and utilities (water, electricity etc.) .
Our church is a hugely valuable asset, both to the village of Abbotsham and to the wider community. Our particular form of worship complements and balances the work of the other three churches in the Torridge Coastal Mission Community – which are more evangelical in nature – by providing a traditional liturgy which fulfils a real spiritual need both within and beyond our village. This is evidenced by the fact that just over 50% of our regular worshippers come from outside the parish. The PCC is keen to nurture and grow this relationship as we believe it will help us to secure the long-term future of our church.
Teddies for Loving Care:
The Teddies for Loving Care scheme was started in the Province of Devonshire in 2008 by the late W Bro John Adcock. The first hospital to receive teddies was Torbay, Followed by the RD&E at Exeter, then Derriford in Plymouth then finally NDDH in Barnstaple. The teddies were then given to Little Bridge House, the Children’s Hospice, also in Barnstaple.
Medical staff use their discretion and will give a bear to a child that is suffering particularly from trauma, injury or illness. They use the bears to befriend the children, to reward them for being brave and in some cases to demonstrate what they are going to do. One radiologist in NDDH told me that she had probably “X-rayed” more teddies than children!!
One A&E sister said “I cannot remember how we used to cope before the Teddies, I hope you can continue to supply them for a long time”
To date Devon Freemasons have supplied 77,770 teddies throughout the Province.
