The Friends of St Peter's is following the precedent of other villages, where local people like an easy way to be able to contribute to the maintenance of the church building, its contents and the churchyard, even if they are not involved in the life of the church itself.
The Friends' fund is entirely separated from the normal running costs of the church, which are met by the congregation (in Stoke Fleming currently around £26,000 pa).
Stoke Fleming has retained its church only because previous generations have looked after it, through hard times and good, for their successors. We are so lucky to live in very active village; what sort of legacy do we wish to leave for those who come after us?