Welcome to the Friends of Barnack Church

At the centre of village life for over 1,000 years

BECOME A FRIEND

The Friends of Barnack Church (FOBC) is a charity that has been in existence for about 40 years to support the preservation of St. John the Baptist Church in Barnack.

The Charity has accomplished much through donating over £70,000 to the Church for the maintenance and restoration of the fabric of the church building and artefacts.

The Money is raised through various fund-raising activities and events organised by the Charity, as well as through membership subscriptions and donations.

For the preservation of a historic building

One of the finest Saxon churches
in England, cared for by the village

Barnack Church has been the centre of village life for over 1,000 years, with construction starting before the Norman Conquest. It is internationally recognised as one of the finest Saxon churches in England. It is built almost entirely of Barnack Stone and contains unique architectural and ornamental features.

Friends of Barnack Church (FoBC) was created in 1986 as an independent charity for the preservation of Barnack Church. It operates separately from the Church of England (CoE), including Peterborough Diocese, although in consultation with Barnack Church.

Church members themselves pay for the general running and maintenance costs of Barnack Church. However, the Church cannot rely on the CoE to finance the high costs of preserving and restoring this asset of the entire community, and the church members alone cannot cover these costs.

What membership has paid for

Since it started, FoBC has given over £70,000 to Barnack Church for a variety of projects.

Earlier

The reredos and mosaics

The FoBC supported the preservation of the reredos and mosaics behind the altar and under the magnificent east window.

1993

Conserving the nave roof

FoBC contributed significantly to the cost of conserving the main (Nave) roof. Amongst other benefits, this protected the carved effigy of ‘Christ in Majesty’ on the north aisle wall, discovered during maintenance in 1931 and possibly dating back to the 11th century.

1994

Restoring the chancel roof

FoBC helped finance the restoration of the roof of the Chancel, which hosts the altar and the choir pews, protecting the 14th century east window. The excellence and variety of its tracery may be unrivalled anywhere in England.

2020

The Lady Chapel roof

Last year FoBC provided £11K to repair the leaking roof of the Lady Chapel, home to a 15th century sculpture of the Annunciation, remarkable for surviving the Reformation and Puritan periods.

How does FoBC hope to support Barnack Church next?

  • Caring for the Churchyard’s ancient stone sculptures and stonework
  • Fixing deteriorating interior plasterwork and wooden flooring
  • Refurbishing the floodlighting and regilding the clock on the tower
  • Refurbishing the Church toilet

Latest news

All News

March 2026 Annual General Meeting

At the Annual General Meeting, Members heard the Charman’s Treasurer’s reports, and discussed possibilities for supporting the Church in the coming year. Also discussed…

Read More
Support the church

Make a donation

Give once or join as a member. Every kind donation goes towards preserving the wonderful building we have here in Barnack, and its artefacts, and Gift Aid adds 25% at no cost to you.

BECOME A FRIEND

Get in touch

Contact the committee

To apply for membership, please email membership@bc-friends.org.uk. Further information from Michael Mills tel. 07523 312 387 or Martin Bloom tel. 07710 077 336.

EMAIL US

Meet the Committee

Michael Mills

Chairman and Trustee

Martin Bloom

Treasurer and Trustee

Linda Cannnon

Committee Member

David Laycock

Committee Member

Ruth Morrison

Committee Member

Amy Ward

Committee Member

Shelley Westcott

Committee Member