The Trustees of the Friends of Droxford Church [FODC] have reflected deeply on recent events including the shocking and sad state of the church and community over the Country Fair weekend in Droxford. As a consequence, we want you to know the following.
FODC was established to, and still fervently wants to, support Droxford PCC. Consequently, the Trustees have reached a position where they need to ask ‘Does Droxford PCC want a ‘Friends’ to support them?
FODC’s three charitable objects are to support the enhancement of the building, educate on our shared heritage and provide facilities and activities for the community. The PCC have benefitted greatly from our energies. In addition, we have always wanted to be closer to the PCC to enhance their Christian mission even more.
To achieve our objects, ongoing funds are needed, and this has been achieved through donations, arranging events and running a café in the annexe. The combined funds from 2019 to 2025 have been circa £55K directly from FODC and £25K {approximately 70% of £35K} from the café and has significantly contributed, we believe, in helping Droxford church having a sustainable future.
That future is very much now in doubt and leads the Trustees to ask the reasonable question whether Droxford church is on the Diocese List of churches destined for closure? If it is then, as Trustees, we would need to know this.
As highlighted at the Country Fair weekend, Droxford village is highly fractured, and our community has been shattered. The Friends hold dear our values of love, community, inclusion, enthusiasm and trust. We have already offered to resolve the situation by discussing a different framework for the café in the annexe. First in January 2026 by way of the Heads of Terms which were agreed by both the PCC and FODC. Then again by way of the shortform café proposal prepared by FODC and which is under review by the PCC. Our offer is partly to resolve the current appalling situation but also to save legal costs to everyone. Whilst we understand the Diocese view that the licence should be set aside, we do not share that view and in contrast have been advised that the licence is valid.
However, the future of Droxford church is precarious and as the heart of Droxford, the most important issue at the moment. The PCC are expected to waste precious funds on obtaining legal advice. The public are denied access to the annexe. No funds are being raised through events and the café in the annexe remains a vastly underused resource. All we ask is for a commitment that funds which are raised through a reopening of the café are dedicated for the fabric of Droxford church.
None of this is possible without healing the hurt. FODC Trustees have been subject to extreme and repeated abuse. However, we have tried to stay true to our values. We recognise that many others in our community are also extremely hurt. We plead with you, as our priest together with the Archdeacon, to help our community heal and bring us together.
Please would you consider mediating so that peace can be restored and the matter become less onerous for you? A meeting with not only the PCC and FODC but one that also includes DCH.
We in turn will commit to reinvigorating our connection to our 110 or so members and recruiting more to become Friends of Droxford Church and so in turn encourage the community to support the PCC and their mission for the church hand in hand with our object to help maintain the fabric of this wonderful, listed building.
Time is of the essence to avoid further hurt, money being wasted either on unnecessary legal fees or essential maintenance work being more costly due to more delay and to avoid escalation involving more litigation.
