The Witham Valley Grant Day & Open House.

What it is.

Twice a year — in February and August — the trustees open the doors of the Old Vestry at Bardney to the four parishes. The grant meeting itself is a formal one and takes place from 14.00 to 16.00. The hours either side — ten until two, and the social half-hour at four — are an informal open house.

It is, in honesty, our quietest event. There is no programme. There are no speeches. There is no fundraising raffle. The leather ledger of the trust is on the long oak table, opened to whichever page in 1864 the trustees happened to be looking at last. The current accounts are pinned to the cork board. The tea is from a 1960s urn. The biscuits are from the village shop in Bardney.

Schedule.

• 10.00 — The vestry opens. Tea on.
• 11.00 — The chair gives a short twenty-minute talk on the year so far, in the side chapel. Open to all.
• 12.00 — A simple sandwich lunch in the parish hall next door, by donation.
• 14.00 — The trustees withdraw for the formal grant meeting. Doors closed for two hours.
• 16.00 — The vestry reopens. The chair will, by tradition, read out the resolutions of the meeting in summary.
• 16.30 — Tea and a Victoria sponge, made by Pip from the bakery. The day closes at five.

Where it is.

The Old Vestry, St Lawrence's Church, Church Lane, Bardney, Lincolnshire, LN3 5UF. The vestry is at the western end of the church, accessible from the church porch and through a small wooden gate from Church Lane. Parking is available in the lane and in the parish hall car park opposite.

Getting there.

By car: Bardney is on the B1190, eight miles east of Lincoln. The lane is signposted from the village centre. By bus: Stagecoach 12 from Lincoln stops on the village green, a four-minute walk from the church. By bicycle: the Water Rail Way runs along the river from Lincoln to Bardney; the bridge at Southrey is signposted.

What to bring.

• · Comfortable shoes — the vestry is a few short steps from the church porch and there is a small flag-stoned path.
• · A coat if the weather is changeable; the vestry can be cool in the morning.
• · Any questions you have about the trust, the funds, or the year's grants. The trustees are happy to talk about all three.
• · (Optional) a small donation toward the Quiet Door, if you would like. A jar is on the table; entirely voluntary.

Accessibility.

The vestry is accessed by two shallow steps from the church porch. There is a hand-rail. A portable ramp is available on request — please let us know in advance and we will have it set up before you arrive. The church itself is fully step-free through the south door. There is an accessible toilet in the parish hall opposite. The hearing loop in the church functions; the vestry does not have one, but conversation is small-group and we will speak clearly. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are warmly welcomed.

Children.

Children are very welcome at the open house. The chair's morning talk is short and gentle. The parish hall next door has a small box of toys and books for younger visitors. The Year Twos' thank-you card from the January news note will be on the display board for the children to read.