The Friends exist specifically to help with the maintenance and upkeep of the fabric of this historic church. Anyone can become a member of the Friends. The money is held in a separate, dedicated account, and is not used for general church purposes.

Recently, the Friends have paid for the full overhaul and redecoration of the whole of the church’s interior. Another major project will be the replacement and enlargement of the church’s protection against lightening. There have also been numerous other projects, including a new carved oak notice board, an altar frontal, a stand for a banner and staging for concerts and other public events.

The Friends task, according to its constitution, is "to maintain, repair, preserve, beautify and reconstruct, for the benefit of the public, the fabric, its monuments, fixtures, fittings, furniture, stained glass, ornaments and other chattels and its churchyard." The Friends’ Executive makes sure that all monies under its control are properly and prudently spent. The accounts are presented at the Annual General Meeting.

Anyone, from anywhere, of any faith or none, can be a Friend, regardless of whether they are, or are not, a member of the church. Friends pay a small annual subscription, which gives them:

But the real benefit of being a Friend lies in knowing that one is helping to look after Rye’s landmark church, which plays such an important part in the life of the town – a visual focal point, a visitor attraction, a place for public events, as well as being a centuries-old centre of worship.