The Friends of St Lawrence Church in Lawrence Street was founded in 1958 as an independent social society, “open to all persons interested in the welfare of St Lawrence”, and “united by a common desire to aid in its maintenance, development, and well-being”.

The Friends run a programme of monthly Friday night talks by guest speakers on a variety of topics, as well as holding occasional social events. Meetings are open to all and are held in the recently refurbished Community Hall. In this its Golden Jubilee year, we are looking for memorabilia, photographs, programmes or posters about the church and its community activities.

The first talk of the autumn season is on Friday, September 21, at 7.30pm, by the renowned organist David Pipe, who is Organist for the Diocese of Leeds and previously Assistant Director of Music at York Minster. There is always tea and cake to follow the talks for a suggested donation of £2. Membership of the Friends is £10 a year.

Please get in touch with us by post, telephone message or email if you have anything relating to past activities of the church and the Friends so that we can create a display in the Community Hall or if you would like a full programme of talks ahead and to join the Friends. We would also love to hear from past members. The Church Office answer phone is 01904-632434, the special email is friendsofstlyork@gmail.com

Rachel Semlyen,

Friends of St Lawrence, St Lawrence Parish Church,

Lawrence Street, York

TV licence review for elderly is a disgrace

Come June of the year 2020, the Government is going to seriously review the free TV licence for those aged 75 and over.

It’s a disgrace that they can even think of docking us “golden oldies” a bit of pleasure in our dotage and at the same time pay members of the Lords £300 a day expenses for sitting on their derrieres doing nothing.

Ken Holmes,

Cliffe Common, Selby