COAST AND COUNTRY. United Benefice. Diocese of Exeter. in the beautiful South Hams of Devon and the

Transcription

1 St Michael s, Blackawton St Andrew s, East Allington COAST AND COUNTRY United Benefice in the beautiful South Hams of Devon and the Diocese of Exeter St Peter s, Stoke Fleming St Michael s, Strete

2 Contents Vision Statement 2 Qualities and Attributes of a new Benefice Priest 2 The Locality 3 Local Amenities The Rectory 4 The Benefice 5 The Background Joint Services and Activities Staff Administration Challenges Benefice Statistics 6 Map of Parish Boundaries Open the Book 7 The Parish of St Michael, Blackawton 8 The Parish The Church Building Worship and Services Church Groups and Activities Church Finances The Parish of St Andrew, East Allington 11 The Parish The Church Building Worship and Church Activities Messy Church The Parish of St Peter, Stoke Fleming 14 The Parish The Church Building Worship and Services Church Groups and Activities Church and School Church Finances The Parish of St Michael, Strete 17 The Parish The Church Building Worship and Services Church Groups and Activities Church Finances 1

3 Coast and Country United Benefice St Michael s Blackawton, St Andrew s East Allington, St Peter s Stoke Fleming and St Michael s Strete Vision Statement Our Benefice is a welcoming, worshipping, praying fellowship at the centre of the life of each village. Through encouragement and example we seek to make known the love of Christ and to be salt and light to those around us. We feel that the new priest should have a significant role in working out the Benefice Mission Action Plan with us. It's not that we are short of ideas and things we would like to do and to happen. There is a perception that many key individuals in the parishes are already fully stretched. We know that a MAP can be about doing less, better. But it's still the case that we need new discernment and leadership, in cutting back as much as in developing new ideas. The churches may be small, but there are willing disciples. Above all we need a pastor to encourage, develop and guide us. Qualities and Attributes of a new Benefice Priest We are looking for a Pastor A priest with an empathy for small, rural parishes, encouraging and nurturing us all to grow in faith, prayer and discipleship within a context of Central Churchmanship and Ecumenical Worship; at ease with the elderly, but able also to reach out and communicate with the young. Team Leader A sympathetic individual who will motivate and lead a team of Readers, lay leaders and other volunteers, discerning and developing their gifts across all the diverse activities required to run the parishes effectively. Community Minded Person An outgoing, energetic man or woman, who is happy to spend time outside the church as well as inside, encouraging and being involved with the communities in all four parishes; helping us to make new disciples by serving the people. 2

4 The Locality The four parishes of the United Benefice lie in the beautiful countryside of the South Hams in the southernmost part of Devon from the sea inland to the A381 and A3122 roads which connect the nearby towns of Totnes, Kingsbridge and Dartmouth. The villages of Stoke Fleming and Strete are in elevated positions on the coast at the northern end of Start Bay, with the popular blue flag beach of St Peter s Church Tower, Blackpool Sands and the coast northwards from Strete cliffs Blackpool in between. The A379 and the SW coast path both run through each village and afford panoramic views, from beyond the mouth of the River Dart round the bay with its many fine golden shingle beaches to the rocky headland and Start Lighthouse. The parishes run northwards and westwards towards Blackawton, some 4 miles from Strete and 5 or 6 from Stoke Fleming. This is a patchwork of rolling hills, deep coombes, copses and small mixed farms. Blackawton and East Allington villages are the hubs of a network of lanes traversing this picturesque landscape. East Allington is some 4 miles from Blackawton and 5 miles from Kingsbridge. Dartmoor, less than an hour away, forms the backdrop on the northern horizon. Approaching Blackawton from Strete with Dartmoor in the distance 3

5 Local Amenities Dartmouth and Kingsbridge, in addition to supermarkets and high street chains, have a number of independent shops and host markets and farmers markets. Each has a sport and recreation centre, a library, a museum, a cottage hospital and a health centre. Food and Music Festivals are among the special events; Kingsbridge has a Fair in July and Dartmouth Regatta is at the end of August. Totnes too has its independent shops and is a Transition Town. Further afield the cities of Plymouth and Exeter are about an hour away. An hourly bus service runs from Dartmouth via Stoke Fleming, Strete and Kingsbridge to Plymouth; there are buses from Kingsbridge and Dartmouth to Totnes and beyond; mainline trains run from Totnes to London, the Midlands and the North. The Rectory The Rectory in Stoke Fleming is a modern, well equipped, energy efficient home which received a thorough makeover and upgrade less than 10 years ago. There are 4 good sized bedrooms (the master with en-suite) as well as bathroom, lounge, dining room, kitchen and utility room with access into a large garage. The house is thoughtfully arranged with the entrance hall giving access to a large study and a downstairs toilet (suitable for disabled) allowing privacy for the incumbent to receive callers without using the main house. There is plenty of parking and a garden mostly laid to grass. The Rectory stands in a secluded paddock, less than 5 minutes walk from St Peter s Church, the pub and the village shop. The thriving primary school is close by and buses run to both Dartmouth Academy and Kingsbridge Community College; some pupils attend Churston Grammar School or KEVICC in Totnes. Only two miles away is Dartmouth, with its doctors practice, shops and supermarkets, ferries and cafes, and the outstanding Flavel Arts Centre, which adds so much to the quality of cultural life in this area. The Rectory in Stoke Fleming 4

6 The Benefice Background For several decades Blackawton, Stoke Fleming and Strete have been a United Benefice with its own incumbent. East Allington most recently has been part of the Modbury team. The PCCs of the four parishes have unanimously approved the formation of the new United Benefice. Associated with the current rearrangement is a request from the PCC of Stoke Fleming that the new benefice be moved into the Totnes Deanery. The other parishes feel that the new priest should have a significant role in deciding this issue. Joint Services and Activities East Allington began joining in with the others last spring and the four Churches are now increasingly working together. A United Benefice Holy Communion Service, rotating around the Parishes, is held on 5 th Sundays and we have been welcomed twice already at St Andrew s. Joint Ash Wednesday and Maundy Thursday Services are already planned as well as the United Benefice Lent Course (held on 3 Tuesday evenings in Stoke Fleming Village Hall). One of the Readers produces Prayer Partners, a monthly leaflet listing services, activities and other prayer requests day by day, and this now includes East Allington. Staff There are currently no retired clergy living in the Benefice. However we do have no fewer than 6 Readers (licensed and PTO), 2 based in Blackawton, 1 in East Allington, 2 in Stoke Fleming and 1 in Strete. The Readers, who are mostly from an open evangelical tradition, play a significant part in the life and leadership of the Churches: they met regularly with the last incumbent (and now with the churchwardens) for prayer and planning, as well as conducting Sunday Services and preaching and leading or supporting home groups and pastoral visiting. Four are licensed to lead Holy Communion by Extension, and two exercise a considerable and greatly appreciated funeral ministry; two are also involved in leading Sunday Worship in churches outside the Benefice. Many other members of the Laity are actively involved in worship and in pastoral visiting as well as in all the other roles that are needed to support both congregation and building. Administration There is at present no Benefice Administrator. The Churchwardens, Treasurers, Secretaries and PCCs are active and involved; the buildings are well maintained (as visitors frequently comment) and the Churches are well run. We do want our new priest to be out and about in the community, not bogged down in administration, so the question of a central administrator may need to be considered. The countryside may be beautiful, but Devon lanes are narrow, steep and twisty making journey times between the parishes longer than might be expected. Challenges Our decreasing and aging congregations mean that a comparatively few people do a great deal. We seek a fresh impetus in reaching out effectively to the wider community. Approaching Blackpool Sands Finance is a real concern. Historic buildings are costly and we all spend a lot of time and effort on fundraising which might be better focused elsewhere. 5

7 Benefice Statistics Parish Population (approx.) Electoral Roll Number of Participants Average Sunday Congregation Common Fund (2016) Blackawton ,128 East Allington ,521 Stoke Fleming 1, ,409 Strete ,481 Table of the number of baptisms, weddings and funerals from January 2014 to November 2015 Parish Baptisms Weddings Funerals Blackawton East Allington Stoke Fleming Strete Dittisham East Allington Blackawton Slapton Stoke Fleming Strete Dartmouth Start Bay Map showing the four parishes. 6

8 Open the Book The village primary schools in Blackawton, East Allington and Stoke Fleming, while retaining their individual identities, have been joined for some years in the Our School Federation, now an Academy in a Multi Academy Trust with Dartmouth and Kingsbridge Secondary Schools. None are church schools. For the last three years teams from the Benefice Churches have been welcomed into the Primary Schools to do Open the Book in their assemblies. Open the Book is the fully scripted, Ofsted approved scheme for church members to present dramatized Bible stories to primary school children in a fun and enjoyable way; it is now run under Bible Society auspices. We have found that the staff are grateful and that the children love these assemblies. One mother commented that she never had any problems getting her children to school on Open the Book days! The children are always eager to volunteer to participate and we are struck by the concentration with which they follow the stories. Across the four Churches Open the Book is central to our outreach to children and we would like to build on it in the future. Team members are now frequently recognised and greeted outside of school and one man in particular remembers being pointed out in the supermarket by a small child to her mother with the words Look, there s Jesus! Paul and Silas in prison, at East Allington School Blackawton School has used the church narthex as a classroom during school building work, and the church itself for various services. The Open the Book team goes into school once a fortnight, and each year, runs a 'Star Trail' in the church offering activities and crafts all about the story and meaning of Christmas. This too is thoroughly enjoyed by children and helpers alike. The East Allington team goes into school monthly; and the Stoke Fleming team, performing every week, has now completed the 3 year cycle of stories for the first time. The team has just been specially invited to perform an Open the Book Christmas story as part of the School s KS2 Carol Service, held in the church. Belshazzar s Feast and the Writing on the Wall, at Stoke Fleming School 7

9 The Parish of St Michael, Blackawton The Parish Blackawton is a rural parish with a population of 739 (2011 Census), including some outlying farms and hamlets, and a Church Electoral Roll membership of 29. Blackawton recently appeared in the Sunday Times list of 50 best places to live in Britain one of three in Devon. It is a very busy and active village: there is a primary school with 150 children; there are three pubs in the parish, a community post office/shop and a community bus with volunteer drivers. There is a W.I., Amateur Dramatic Society, Young Farmers Club, Community Choir, and several fitness groups (Pilates, Zumba, etc.). Many of these activities are based in the excellent Village Hall. Many Church members belong to these organisations. It is not a retirement village, nor is it a pretty village with many holiday homes, but there is little employment in the village. Those who work in the parish are mostly involved in agriculture and its related industries; others work in the local towns of Dartmouth, Totnes and Kingsbridge, and others commute as far as Exeter and Plymouth. The parish includes Dartmouth Golf Club and Woodlands Leisure Park. The Blackawton Beacon is a monthly village newsletter, which is published jointly by the PCC and the Parish Council and distributed free to every house in the parish. There is a Parish Monthly Prayer Cycle. The Church Building The Church building is 14th century, with later additions. There is a fine 12 th century font with honeysuckle ornament and a well preserved rood screen. The interior was repainted in There is a modern narthex, kitchen and toilet at the west end with a gallery above. The narthex is used for serving refreshments after services, for PCC meetings, coffee mornings, Traidcraft sales, Easter morning breakfast, etc. The Churchyard is closed by Order in Council and is maintained by the Parish Council and some sheep. Worship and Services St. Michael s is a typical country church with members from all traditions and from other denominations. The monthly pattern of Church services includes a Choral Evensong and a Morning Worship as well as Holy Communion on three Sunday mornings at different times. 8

10 Special services mark the major Festivals and the rural calendar: Plough Sunday, Ash Wednesday (Holy Communion and Imposition of Ashes), Mothering Sunday, Women s World Day of Prayer, Maundy Thursday (Holy Communion and Watch), Good Friday (Devotional Service), Easter Day (Vigil and Service of Light, Family Communion), Christian Aid, Rogation, Harvest Festival, Advent (Carol Service) and Christmas (Carol Service, Scratch Nativity Play, Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Holy Communion). The laity organise and lead many non-communion services and are involved in reading lessons, leading intercessions, chalice administration and visiting in the parish. There are three Readers on the Electoral Roll (Frank & Lyn Robinson and Sally Green). Communion by Extension is used to provide Holy Communion services when a priest is not available. Church Groups and Activities Stir Up Sunday St Michael s Choir at the Village War Memorial on Remembrance Sunday St Michael s became a recognised Fairtrade Church in A Bible Study Group meets weekly, led by Frank & Lyn Robinson. The PCC meets monthly (except in August and December) and aspires to see growth in the church. There is a choir of 8 adults. There is no regular organist. Mission Praise is the principal hymn book, and other sources are used occasionally. The bells are rung before the 11am service on the 3rd Sunday and on major Festivals and other special occasions. There are good links with Blackawton Primary School. The School often holds its Christmas and Harvest services in church. The Church organises an annual Teddy Bears Parachute Jump which attracts many families from the village. People gathering for the annual Teddy Bears parachute jump from the Church Finances The Church pays its Common Fund in full. There is an annual Church Fête held in July and Spring & Advent coffee mornings, which are well supported by the wider parish as well as Church members. 9

11 Church members volunteer in Blackawton Community Shop Details of the Rood Screen in St Michael s dating from the time of Henry VIII The 12 th Century Font 10

12 The Parish of St Andrew, East Allington East Allington from the Church Tower with Dartmoor in the background The Parish Just four miles northeast of Kingsbridge and south of the A381, East Allington is a working village of about 850 souls. There are a number of mixed farms in the parish, including two near the centre. There is also a light engineering works, but most of the population who are not involved in agriculture commute to Kingsbridge, Salcombe or further afield. Housing provision is mixed with small modern estates (some privately owned and some Local Authority), older traditional cottages and a number of larger properties, particularly on the edges of the village. There is a significant number of young families in the village which supports the excellent Primary School situated next to the church. Both within the village and wider afield, The Fortescue Arms is a popular pub which supports many village activities. These also take place in the well used Parish Hall or outdoors and include the Whacky Races, a dog show and short mat bowls. Recently a village shop has been opened and is run by local volunteers. The Church Building The church is at the high point of the village and its (recently renovated) clock can be seen easily. It is a large building, mostly of quarry-stone and contains some unexpected features. The rood screen and pulpit are 17th century. There is a fine set of 6 bells although at present we lack a full team of ringers. The last of the local squires (the Cubitt family - Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall is a descendant) renovated the church in the 1870s providing the current internal layout, altar reredos and font. Church members have continued to maintain the building, recently installing a coffee area, a new digital organ and repainting the interior. 11

13 Goodwill within the village community helps towards the maintenance of the church: 'strimmers' cut the churchyard grass regularly during the summer, the clock has been maintained and repaired by villagers, and church cleaning and flowers are provided by a wide group within the local community. Worship & Church Activities There is a service every Sunday morning, with two Communion services, Matins and a modern language Morning Worship each month. The weekly attendance averages 10, but this can rise to 60+ at festivals, e.g. the midweek Harvest service. Although there are young families in the village the Church struggles to find ways of attracting them on a regular basis. However Messy Church meets on a monthly basis in the Parish Hall with a number of families attending regularly. The School uses the church building on several occasions during the year. East Allington School is next to the Church The Church organises a number of village social activities: there is a monthly whist drive (which also provides significant funds) and a 'drop in' for coffee and a chat on a monthly basis. Both these meet in the Parish Hall. A fortnightly 'knit & natter' group meets at the pub. In recent years the Church has also organised a Fete which has included a Songs of Praise in the marquee. The harvest supper has become an anticipated social event, as has the summer cream tea. These activities reflect an active church membership which, although small in numbers, continues to be outward-looking and keen to enable the church to be an integrated and valued part of village life in East Allington. Messy Church Messy Church in East Allington started in April 2011 and meets in the village hall between 3.00 to 5.00pm on the first Sunday afternoon of the month excluding January, July and August. Most of the themes used are from the Get Messy magazine. We have an hour of crafts, a 15 to 20 minute celebration with a bible story/drama and two worship songs, ending with puppets miming a third song. We serve good coffee, tea, squash and biscuits throughout and finish by sharing a light meal together. We have a keyboard, projector and screen paid for by a grant from the Millennium Fund and often have ukulele accompaniment as well. There can be up to 36 people (children, adults and a team of between 3 to 6 people) and the numbers have grown slightly over the last year. Apart from some of the team, the people who come to Messy Church do not worship at the main, traditional village church. The sessions have a warm and friendly atmosphere and are enjoyed by all ages. We have Dads 12

14 bringing children as well as Mums, and still have new people coming; but only a few families commit to coming every month. All ages are welcome. An A5 Messy Invitation goes into all the children's bags in the village school (65) and we send an information sheet home with those who come on the day. We also do a write-up of each session in the village monthly magazine. We give Real Advent Calendars to the children in December and we have a Messy Sheep Trail around the village finishing at the Christingle service in the Church. Making vegetable animals is one of the crafts at Harvest time We place our crafts round the cross on the table at the front United Benefice Service at East Allington 13

15 The Parish of St Peter, Stoke Fleming The Parish Stoke Fleming village occupies high ground in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty less than 3 miles south of Dartmouth and overlooking Start Bay with its renowned beaches. The Parish extends over 3 miles inland with a number of hamlets nestling in the deep folds of rolling farmland. The total population is around 1,200. The village itself is on the Dartmouth to Kingsbridge coast road (and bus route); at its heart is the Village Shop/Post Office, the Green Part of Stoke Fleming Village from St Peter s tower Dragon pub and a Restaurant. The South West Coast Path passes right by the church. There is an excellent Primary School, a Youth Club, a large playing field and children s playground and a superb modern Village Hall where many of the numerous Stoke Fleming clubs and activities operate. The annual Hort and Sport show on August Bank Holiday is a particular highlight in a busy programme of village activities and events which help to make Stoke Fleming a vibrant and enthusiastic community. The excellent monthly Village Magazine is delivered free to all households. There are many retired people in the village and a significant, but not overwhelming, number of second homes. Blackpool Sands Beach is just half a mile away and tourism is important: as well as several B&Bs, there are 2 Camping and Caravan Sites and the Stoke Lodge Hotel. Others find work in the nearby towns. There is a wide range of housing (and more development is on the way) but property prices make housing expensive for young people and more affordable homes are needed to maintain the number of young families. We feel very lucky to live in such a kind and busy village in such a lovely locality. The Church Building St Peter s Church, which is grade 2* listed, dates from the 13 th century, but was given a thorough make-over in 1871, as well as more recent modifications such as the Tower Room and gallery. The substantial refurbishment in 2012 included the repainting of the interior, together with new heating and lighting and a modern sound system, and has resulted in a bright and welcoming building. The 14

16 church is always open in daylight hours and many visitors comment on its peace and beauty and on the high level of up-keep. The building contains many treasures such as the Norman Font, the 14 th Century Corp Brass and the wooden pulpit, beautifully carved by Violet Pinwill in 1891 when she was only 17 years old. The various stained glass windows are of considerable interest and there is a fine 19 th century organ with hand painted pipes. Major work on the tower interior and bell frame has been approved. The Tower Project is now almost fully funded (helped by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant) and work will commence in early The well maintained churchyard is still open for burials and there is a separate area for cremated remains. Worship and Services There are two Holy Communion (CW) Sunday Services during the month and two contemporary Morning Worship Services, alternating between 9.30am and 11am. There is also one 8am BCP Holy Communion. Members of the congregation do the Bible Readings, lead the intercessions and act as chalice assistants. The Readers are authorised to lead Communion by extension as well as non- Eucharistic services. We recently enjoyed Evensong sung by Chorus Ecclesiae and hope to include more similar services in future. Special Sundays include Rogation (when the service is in the open, moving through field, garden and churchyard), Sea Sunday and Christian Aid Sunday. Members of the congregation are drawn from various traditions and we often have a few visitors. Numbers swell considerably for the major festivals, and also for Remembrance Sunday which is actively supported by the Royal British Legion. Church Groups and Activities St Peter s has a flourishing Mothers Union branch which meets monthly, usually in the Village Hall. Members come from other parishes as well as Stoke Fleming. As well as an interesting and varied programme of talks and participation in charitable schemes MU members also enjoy sharing a special Communion Service, a meal at Stoke Lodge Hotel and carol singing in church. MU members regularly undertake the catering on all sorts of occasions. There are two Home Groups, led by Readers, one meeting in the afternoon and following York Courses, the other in the evening for Bible study. The Prayer Group meets monthly in the Tower Room. The Visiting Group supports a number of parishioners in need with companionship and practical help such as shopping; cards are also sent to those who have been baptized, bereaved or married. St Peter s belongs to Christians Together in Dartmouth and District and collects items for the Dartmouth Food Bank. Our team of Bellringers, in addition to faithfully ringing before services and practising on Thursday evenings, has been busy preparing and hosting very successful Tower Open Days with interactive displays in church and tours up the tower. Two new bells have been donated which will give St Peter s a peal of eight. 15

17 The Friends of St Peter s are resourceful and proactive, raising more than 15,000 for the Tower Clock electrification and the new weather vane. Among their fundraising ventures particularly noteworthy have been the various concerts organised in church. St Peter s itself has also occasionally hosted Christian drama, most recently Oddments Theatre Company s Amazing Grace, on the life of John Newton. The Christmas Tree Festival, now in its ninth year, is a big and joyful community event bringing lots of people into the church. Nearly 30 different local Stoke Fleming societies and organizations each decorate their own themed Christmas tree. Large numbers visit over three days and their generous donations are shared between St Peter s and a different charity each year. Church and School As well as welcoming the Open the Book team each week Stoke Fleming School also hosts the monthly church organised Community Lunches, at which senior citizens from the parish sit down among children in the school for a splendid two course meal, cooked by the school chef. The church is regularly packed with parents and families for the School Harvest and Christmas Services and the whole school comes to church at the very end of the Michaelmas Term for a Christingle Service led by the Rector or Reader. Children from the school form a volunteer choir for the Church s Mothering Sunday Service, as well as participating in special drama (such as Strictly Come Mothering) for the occasion. Shortly before November 11 th older children come to plant remembrance crosses beside the path to the church porch. A Reader, who is also a School Governor, has been invited to talk to the children on visits to the church made by individual classes as part of their learning programme. We would like to build further on this good relationship between Church and School. Angels rehearse for the KS1 Nativity Play Children lay a wreath on behalf of the School Church Finances In recent years we have not only financed some major projects but also, with the help of some steady fundraising (e.g. coffee mornings, stalls and refreshments in Dartmouth Gardens, the Hot Chocolate Bazaar and Christmas Tree Festival), we have continued to pay our Common Fund as well as meeting all expenses and costs. We shall be exploring the Parish Giving Scheme when Katie Riscorla visits in February. In addition to donating the collections on special Sundays such as Harvest Festival we give financial support to a number of charities, both local and international such as Dartmouth Caring and Bible Society. 16

18 The Parish of St Michael, Strete Our Church seeks to be a welcoming, praying fellowship at the centre of village life. Strete on its cliff top viewed from Stoke Fleming Church Tower The Parish The rural parish of Strete is 4 miles from the market town of Dartmouth and 8 miles from Kingsbridge. Both towns have extensive shops and businesses. The village itself lies within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is bordered by the beautiful coastline of Start Bay. Inland the countryside is a patchwork of fields, farms and coombs, affording long distance views to Dartmoor. The parish has a resident population of 488, augmented by second home owners. Most parishioners are of retirement age. Those still working are generally employed in tourism or farming or the service sector. As well as St Michael s, Strete also has an active Chapel (Free Evangelical). The village has a busy Post Office/Store, a pub and a popular restaurant (The Laughing Monk, in the old school premises). The Parish Hall is used for various social gatherings such as whist drives and folk dances, meetings of Strete Social Club and Blackawton and Strete History Society. The village school closed in Children travel to Stoke Fleming for primary education and then to Dartmouth or Kingsbridge for secondary studies. There is an hourly bus service to both towns. The Church Building St. Michael s is a Grade 2 listed building. Previously the inhabitants of Strete were part of the Parish of Blackawton, a 4 mile walk each Sunday. The church was built in 1836 as a chapel of ease, at a cost of

19 The choir stalls were removed in the mid 2000s to provide room near the altar. In 2010 two pews were removed from the back of the south side of the church and a coffee area with mains water was installed. The church interior has just been repainted. In 2013/4 the parishioners undertook a project Access For All. Funds were raised to construct a disabled access. All the work was undertaken by local men assisted by cadets from the Dartmouth Naval College. Wheelchairs can now easily be brought into the church. The churchyard is open and well maintained. There is still space for burials and an area for cremated remains has been set aside. The church is fortunate in having a car park accommodating 10 cars. There is no toilet in the church building; those in need utilise the facilities in the Village Hall across the road. Worship and Services Regular Sunday services at 11am alternate between Holy Communion (CW) and Morning Worship. In addition, there are Special Services for Rogation, Christian Aid, Sea Sunday, August Songs of Praise, Harvest Festival, Remembrance Day, Carols at Christmas and a Christmas Eve Communion. All these services are under the care of the Worship Committee, led by one of the Readers. Non-Eucharistic services are led by Readers (who are also licensed to conduct Communion by Extension) or the 2 person Lay team. Visiting speakers are also invited several times a year. The Epistle and Gospel are always read by the laity; intercessions are also lay-led once a month. The average Sunday attendance is 16, but this increases very significantly at the special services. Our congregation is warm, friendly and largely elderly. Sadly no children regularly attend. Strete Chapel does have a young people s group called the Young Searchers. Over the last 14 years considerable effort has been made to share services. We are always joined for Songs of Praise, Harvest Festival, Remembrance Sunday and Christmas Carols. Mothering Sunday is a combined annual service alternating between the church and the chapel. Church Groups and Activities The PCC has 5 lay members. Two Churchwardens have been elected in 2015, one of whom is also a Reader. Our Bible Study group is small but ecumenical. The group is led by a Roman Catholic, has 3 members from Non-Conformist Churches and 3 from St. Michael s. The Pastoral Committee too is ecumenical. We have two main areas of outreach. The first is at Hyne Town House Residential Home which specialises in Alzheimer s and dementia. Every 2 weeks Communion by Extension and 18

20 hymn singing is conducted there. This is led by one of our Readers assisted by a church member. In addition there is always a Remembrance Day service as well as carols at Christmas. The pastoral team visits residents regularly. The second area of outreach is through Open the Book at Stoke Fleming and Blackawton Schools. We have 2 members in the Stoke Fleming Team and 1 member in the Blackawton Team. Our Church also hosts groups of Christians camping at nearby Southwood Farm in July and August. 200 youngsters are in the church on 5 summer Sundays to worship in services conducted by their leaders. Church Finances The Diocesan Common Fund and all clergy expenses are paid in full. Recently the PCC has made great efforts to balance the books on an annual basis, as reserves had been dwindling. The Treasurer is supported by two other members of the Finance Committee. Every effort is made to conduct financial affairs in line with best practice. Fund raising events are held during the year such as: a Summer Fete in Royal Avenue Gardens, Dartmouth; Christmas Fayre at the Laughing Monk; a progressive supper, cream tea or cheese and wine; coffee mornings; a community concert in church. The Charities we support financially are Christian Aid, MAF, Farm Crisis Network and the Royal British Legion. We collect donations to the Dartmouth Food Bank which is organized through Christians Together in Dartmouth and District. St Michael s recently organized a very successful concert, raising money for the Church and for the work of the Barnabas Fund among Syrian refugees. 19