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Annual Report
THE MIDFOSSE PARISHES
Lighthorne, Lighthorne Heath, Chesterton, Newbold Pacey, Moreton Morrell
ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING 2009/2010
Incumbent’s Report
It has been another full and enjoyable year in the MidFosse Parishes. However, it has not been without its challenges. In the wider world the effects of the recession have been brought closer with financial anxieties and redundancies. As I write this, we are gearing up for a General Election. The nation has never had such a scale of debt, the war in continues and the image of
The Church, too, has not been without its challenges. The Roman Catholic Church is reeling under the weight of the disclosures of child abuse scandals particularly, but not exclusively, in . The Pope is due to visit these shores, and specifically
In his presidential address to Diocesan Synod recently, the Bishop of Coventry spoke about the “thinness of Church life and the thickness of society’s problems.”
He went on to say: “Some areas fare better than others but across the Diocese our regular worshippers are - frankly - few, even on our best count; and when the demographics are factored in the situation is frightening. The whole body of Christ is thin in this land. Nevertheless, our penetration into the fabric of society is out of all proportion to our committed numerical size. We make a deep contribution to our communities through our schools and chaplaincies, through our everyday pastoral ministry and imaginative use of our buildings, through costly engagement with the social problems of our parishes by means of church based projects and by supporting other charitable or statutory activity. All of this is quite remarkable.”
Bishop Christopher went on to say that “the state of mind and way of life that to all intents and purposes ignores God is not producing stable families, content children, safety on our streets, reliable and just financial systems or politicians that people feel they can trust. There is a deep dis-ease about the quality of life in our homes and communities and nation and, if the quality of our mental health is an accurate indicator, we are not a happy nation: 70% are stressed!
He points to three needs - three ‘Rs’:
- Renewal of the life of the church How can we go and tell of Christ if we cannot say to people come and see the Christ in our hearts and homes and churches?
- Rebuilding of Christian commitment.
- Re-forming of society’s values and assumptions. This is a long-term one!
He ended up saying that a renewed and rebuilt Church should join the campaign of attrition – to wear down society’s worn out values. We should also continue to be an attractive fellowship which, in the words of Bishop Christopher “embodies an alternative set of values and assumptions based on the steadfast love of God that leads to a better way of life.” (Full text available at: http://www.coventry.anglican.org/admin/boardscommittees/diocesansynod )
It seems to me that we have a unique opportunity of doing this in our intimate rural communities. We cannot compete with the music and liturgy of larger urban Churches but we have the advantage of not being strangers together, of sharing in varied ways inside and outside the Church, of caring for one another, and of demonstrating an attractive, loving society.
Thank you to all who are involved in this task. At the Diocesan level we are blessed in having two outstanding Bishops, Christopher and John. Soon, Archdeacon Ian Watson will be joined by Archdeacon Missioner Morris Rodham to replace Michael Paget-Wilkes who retired last year.
In the Deanery we are just finalising a new and more equitable system for the Parish Share. Kate Distin’s work is effective in drawing different elements of the Deanery together and in resourcing the children’s work and faith development programmes. Her website is full of resources: www.fossedeanery.distin.co.uk.
In the Benefice, we are grateful that Richard Woodfin has been licensed as a Reader. He joins Readers Keith and Mary Blackburn. Peter Byrd is due to be licensed later in the year and Gillian Jones is just beginning to explore Reader ministry.
In July Neil Dunlop, together with his wife Vickie and their son Joseph, will be joining us. Neil will be the Curate and will live at 5 Chestnut Grove, Moreton Morrell. We look forward to welcoming him on the 4th July at Coventry Cathedral where he will be ordained Deacon and then at a 6pm service at Moreton Morrell followed by refreshments.
Our Parish administrator, Sam Lloyd continues to manage things at the office and to update the new website each month. This can be found at www.midfosse.co.uk. Thank you to Tom Cox and Janet Oliver for the monthly Magazine that keeps us all in touch and informed – and thank you to those who deliver it.
Other Benefice events of note have been the Confirmation of 11 candidates at Holy Trinity, Stratford; the Advent course led by Kate Distin entitled Walk on Water; the Retreat on Holy Island in March; the Benefice service at Newbold Pacey which was led by the Bishop of Coventry; the Lent Course on Prayer led by Richard Woodfin, Elizabeth Greetham and Gillian Jones and held in Ashorne; the Lent lunches which raised over £400 for the children of Haiti, adding to a significant donation from Lighthorne Heath that was sent earlier; the Good Friday Walk through the villages, ending up gathering around the Cross at Lighthorne Church; the inspiration of the Easter services in such wonderful surroundings and with Churches that have been so beautifully decorated.
Over the past year there have been 7 baptisms, 12 confirmations, 1 received into the Church of England, 5 weddings, 3 blessings of civil marriages and 25 funerals.
I would like to thank all the churchwardens and other PCC officers and others involved in such a variety of ministries (playing the organ, music group, reading and leading intercessions, serving refreshments, cleaning, bell ringing, flower arranging, etc). All your contributions are greatly appreciated and help to make us who we are.
Some highlights from the Parishes are:
NEWBOLD PACEY:
§ Upholstered chairs have been acquired for the nave. We still need a few more and it is hoped that parishioners will respond to purchasing additional new upholstered chairs (perhaps in memory of a loved one) so that we can replace the wooden chairs.
§ A new shed has been erected in the churchyard which provides much needed additional storage space.
§ Fund raising has already begun to replace the chemical toilet with a flush toilet.
§ The Fete held in and around the Church was a great success.
§ The Advent Carol service and Tree of Lights was well supported again, as was the Christingle service.
§ The Fair Trade and Local Produce shop has continued to meet monthly in the Ashorne Village Hall with Glebe Farm selling local meat and vegetables. Homemade cakes and greetings cards are also on sale.
CHESTERTON:
§ The project involving the refurbishment of the peal of three bells so that they can be swing-chimed has been completed and paid for. The dedication ceremony will be conducted by the Bishop of Warwick on Sunday 12th September at 5pm.
§ The Open weekend in June was attended by about 400 people.
§ The Carol service was attended by about 150 people.
§ A new organ has been donated.
§ An area of the churchyard has been designated a wildlife conservation area.
§ A small barn alongside the churchyard has been given to the community by the late Peter
Westmacott. We will be exploring how this can be developed into a community centre.
§ Many other minor improvements have been completed thanks to David Adams who is the Curator.
MORETON MORRELL:
§ The Nave roof has been repaired, re-tiled and paid for.
§ Plans for the John Howard Davis Room have been on hold during this major project.
§ A very successful flower festival was held, culminating in Songs of Praise. This resulted in a substantial donation to the roof fund.
§ The combined School and Church fete (Medieval Fayre) went very well.
§ The Shout Gospel Choir gave a concert.
§ There was a College Carol service in the church and Peter Byrd has taken some initiatives at the College.
§ The Crib service was very well attended and featured a large angel. Many members of the MidFosse Parishes assisted in constructing the wings..
§ The school children are having an assembly or a service in the church twice a term, as well as weekly assemblies in school. The Fish Club is now meeting again every half term, headed up by Marilyn Boardman. Seasonal art work is being displayed in church.
§ There are regular flower arranging workshops.
§ Prime Time has continued to be led by a strong lay team, although we are disappointed that few children attend.
§ A new children’s area has been designated at the West end of the church.
§ A women’s bible study group meets each fortnight.
LIGHTHORNE HEATH:
§ Evening services have continued every Sunday in the Village Hall. There is now a rota for leading worship, preaching and practical ministries.
§ A Home group meets weekly.
§ Three young people’s groups for different ages meet weekly: Seeka (8-11), Seefa (11-14) and Deepa (14+). They helped to raise money for the children of .
§ Many young people attended Venture and Falcon Camps over the summer. Several also attended Soul Survivor and New Wine.
§ Community outreach initiatives, such as serving free “bacon butties” have continued.
§ The Get Together Club meets weekly.
LIGHTHORNE:
§ A public address system together with a hearing induction loop has been installed.
§ External speakers for the organ have been placed in the nave.
§ There is now a vestry alarm.
§ A successful concert was staged by Jane Rigby in aid of Shipston Home Nursing.
§ The band of bell ringers continues to ring regularly. However we have been saddened by Gordon and Chris Wild suffering ill health and having to withdraw.
§ The Church Fete and Cream Teas were successful summer events.
§ The Harvest Supper and Quiz was well supported.
§ A social and fund raiser cheese and wine evening was held at the home of Phoebe Sabin.
May we continue to be an attractive fellowship which, in the words of Bishop Christopher “embodies an alternative set of values and assumptions based on the steadfast love of God that leads to a better way of life.”
The Revd John Burrell
Rector and Rural Dean of Fosse Deanery
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