The Rector’s Report to the St Peter’s APCM 2009

Introduction

Every year this report begins with thank you’s, and that is as it should be. Without the hard work and commitment of so many people at St Peter’s we simply could not function effectively. Our church officers have a huge profile. Our PCC has served diligently, and our Fund Raising Committee had an outstanding year. Our Sidesmen and women and our sacristan, have ensured that we are prepared and welcoming at our services. Our Associate Priest, The Revd Dr Phillip Tovey has been a great personal support and a guide and mentor to our Authorised Ministers of the Word, Paul Rast-Lindsell, Bill Tidbury and Geoff and Dee Dee Lowe. I know his ministry is also greatly appreciated by the congregation. Our choir have been guided and encouraged to increase their musical knowledge and ability. The junior choristers have been very fortunate to have such a committed start to their musical life. Sadly, Val Rast-Lindsell moves on, and with our thanks go our good wishes and prayers for her continuing ministry of music at Trinity Church Abingdon. Pam Lambourne with her team of flower arrangers continues to beautify our church each Sunday.

Special thanks must go to Margaret Stanford who has been Secretary to the PCC for 24 years. She has, therefore seen many Rectors’ Reports pass before her eyes before being immaculately filed. She has been an incredible help to me personally, ensuring that all our administrative functions are kept on track. I know that we are all grateful for her contribution to the life and work of St Peter’s and I am delighted that she will continue to serve on the PCC.

Ministry in the church We are truly blessed with the way ministry in our church has grown. We have seen the evidence in our 4 Authorised Ministers of the Word. As I said earlier, Phillip Tovey has been of enormous help and encouragement to them. We have watched the ministry to our young people grow. It all starts with the Tiddlers and their Mums and Dads. Margaret Stanford and Frances Morris offer a powerful ministry of hospitality and friendship to the newest members of the church. The children become Dolphins once they start school, and they encounter the Christian experience of Godly Play. Initially Jane Cooper and Caroline Cross but now with a number of Mums who have become story tellers and other authorised helpers. We are really grateful to them for taking on this responsibility and ensuring Dolphins’ continuation in the future. The children keep growing and become ‘The Octopus’ group (there were eight of them to begin with). This is the most challenging age group to deal with, how do you keep young teenagers involved? Thanks to the energy and ingenuity of Mike and Liz Varnom, Bill and Teresa Tidbury and Jane Cooper we are managing, but we really could do with some help.

Church Buildings As I write the path extension leading to the lower churchyard was completed this very day! We are planning to have the gates replaced, but have to obtain planning permission before we can apply for a faculty. We shall decorate the parish room during the week commencing May 18th 09. This will conclude the complete redecoration of the church. The parish room now has a speaker fitted so that anyone who retires to the parish room with a child can keep in touch with the service. There are just 1 or 2 pews that don’t have the bar across the back that prevents children falling through, So this is a priority for completion. The organ project is still live and we await the visit from an independent adviser who will make suggestions about the sighting and type of instrument we might consider. We have purchased an additional petrol mower that will fit between the headstones and a powerful strimmer for tackling the more overgrown parts of the churchyard. The PCC agreed that we should introduce a policy of reburials in unmarked areas of the churchyard where the surrounding headstones are a minimum of 50 years old. These will be carefully controlled with clear instructions about the style of headstone permitted and that they must be re-turfed.

The Joint Benefice of Wootton and Dry Sandford With Shippon Due to continuing vacancies within the Deanery the Area Dean has been asked by the Archdeacon to go back to first principles with regard to future plans. With this in mind all possible changes are on hold and a process of consultation will take place in September 09. The Area Dean assures me that there is no hidden agenda and all points of view will be considered. My belief is that we should continue to collaborate as we have in the past and continue to enjoy the benefits that come as a result.

In summary We have had another busy and productive year. Our relationship with the community has been enhanced by our willingness to share our premises whilst the Community Centre undergoes its refurbishment which has also affected Community Coffee which continues to thrive. Our relationship with St Peter’s School continues to flourish thanks to the many church people that involve themselves with the school’s life. Our relationship with each other is also mutually beneficial with many acts of prayerful support being given to those in need, within and outside the church walls. Our relationship with God stands firm, with healthy attendance at all our services. So we give thanks to God for His graciousness and love towards us and pray that we may continue to serve Him with thankful hearts.

Rector’s Report to the APCM of St Helen’s Church Dry Sandford, 21.04.09 When I reviewed my 2008 report there is nothing I would wish to change in the first paragraph from last year, save to say that those mentioned have continued to give me and the parish church their unstinting support. Thus my thanks go to our Church Wardens, Adrian and Jan who have also acted as Hon Treasurer and PCC Secretary respectively. Our PCC has been diligent in attending meetings and we have been fortunate to have the unofficial support of Trevor Dixie and Michael Rivers in and around the church and its grounds, and Janet Trinder who has acted Flower Arranger, verger and general church custodian. For 9 years we have been anticipating the provision of a water supply to the church, and for about 5 years the relaying of the path. This is now complete! All correctly done, of course, through the faculty process and is a considerable asset to the church. Parish worship remains patchy. Our Family Worship Service has grown in strength and frequently has a congregation in excess of 20. The monthly joint 8am service remains at about the same figure as last year, however our Sunday Evening Prayer and Holy Communion sometimes has only two worshippers. It is hard to know how that might be changed; the general trend in church going is away from Sunday evening services. Occasional special services are well attended, particularly our Christmas Carol Service which fills the church. Christmas and Easter Day services have been well attended this year in comparison to previous years.

Being shown to be a viable parish is important and our sound financial footing is an advantage. Paying our parish share is always a priority that has been achieved thanks to the support of Cothill House Educational Trust, however to be seen to fill our official posts is also essential. We are incredibly indebted to Jan Bartlett for her long service as PCC Secretary and she has earned her “retirement” but she must be replaced. Being seen to be a healthy group of churches will be an important factor to be considered by those discussing the next stage of the Deanery Plan. The Church and the Primary School at Dry Sandford continue to cooperate when ever possible, and we welcome them frequently into church, as well as working in school. They are very grateful for our support. We have an important duty of care to the community which we serve, and we pray for God’s strength and guidance as we go about our work as custodians of St Helen’s. My thanks go to you all for supporting me in this task. John Cooper (Rector) The Benefice of Wootton and Dry Sandford

I am very pleased to announce that the following people have been elected to serve as Church Wardens in our respective parishes. At St Peter’s Wootton: Mr Paul Rast-Lindsell, Mr Geoff Lowe. At St Helen’s Dry Sandford: Mrs Jan Bartlett, Mr Adrian Richardson. They will be sworn in with co-Wardens in the Deanery of Abingdon and with Wardens from the Deanery of Wallingford at Blewbury Parish Church on Tuesday 5th May at 7.30pm. Please keep them in your prayers as they prepare for a busy year and give them your support as they go about their tasks.

Your PCC membership for the coming year is: At Dry Sandford: Jan Bartlett, Jennifer Bigg, Jane Cooper, Josephine Cross, Cyril Rudge, Arthur Spriggs and Janet Trinder. At Wootton: Jane Cooper, Gwen Edwards, Christine Hallett, Garry Hayman, Angela Huxter, Wally Jacob, Kate Lovejoy, Frances Morris, Shirley Northover, Mollie Penn, Wendy Quigley, Val Rast-Lindsell, David Stanford, Margaret Stanford, Bill Tidbury, and Sally Wymbs.

With every blessing,

John