THE DEANERY OF HEYWOOD and MIDDLETON

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1 1. Attendees: Present: 27 Minutes of the Heywood & Middleton Deanery Synod Monday 20 th October 2014 at the St James, Heywood Rev d Matthew Carlisle, Mrs Allison Bamford, Mrs Denise Collinson (St Luke, St John) Mrs Elaine Fowler, Mr John Tolley (St Aidan), Dr Marian Corns, Mrs Anne Stamp (St Margaret & St George) Mrs Pam Farrar, Mr Clive Read (St James) Rev ds Philip Miller (AS&M, Langley), Mr Garth Redford (St Mary, Langley)) Mr J Pye (St. Thomas, Langley) Rev d (Sr) Frances Guite (St Martin) Mr David Peace (St Martin) Mr Jack Wilson (St Leonard) Rev ds Sue Spencer, Peter Demain, Ms Melanie Clegg, Mr Jeremy Chadwick (St John, Thornham) Rev d Maria Wall, Mr Joseph Powell (Jnr) (Rhodes & Parkfield) Rev d Maureen Thorp, Mr Graham Barr, Mrs Pat Barr (St Michael) 2. Apologies: 13 Rev d Irene Warrington (St Luke) Rev d Susan Banks (St Margaret & St George) Rev d Pauline Jones, Rev;d Sue Morgan Mrs Alison Clissold (AS&M, Langley), Dr Jackie Broxton (St. Thomas, Langley) Mrs Alison Knott (St Martin) Miss Christine Swailes(St Leonard) Mrs Freda Clapperton, Mrs Ann Rathmill (St Leonard) Mr George Hulme (St John, Thorham) Fr. Adrian Arnold, Mr Frank Platt (St Gabriel) Ms Lesley-Ann Beresford Hallam, Mr Darrel Blakeley, Mrs Dorothy Haynes, Mr John Roebuck, (St Michael) 3. Opening Prayer Canon Philip Miller (PM) opened the meeting with a reading from Luke s Gospel, 12 v13. He thanked the members from St James for their hospitality. He reported that Rev d Ian Stamp had started worshiping with St james. The reading from St Matthew s Gospel, was read by Mrs Allison Clissold, and was followed by prayers by PM to ask God s blessing on this synod and its members in the work they do. 4. Minutes of the last meeting The following amendments to the minutes were made Rev d Maureen Thorp, Mr Jack Wilson, Mrs Freda Clapperton, Mrs Ann Rathmill moved to apologies Spelling of Sister Frances Clare s name corrected in list of Standing Committee members The minutes were then accepted as a correct record. 5. Matters arising from previous minutes None 6. Correspondence PM announced that the attendance census ought now be taking place. The incumbent, or PCC secretary, in his/her absence, should ensure that should ensure this takes place during October and the returns sent to the diocese in the envelope provide by them. Minutes Deanery Synod at the St James Heywood.docx Page 1 of 8

2 7. Elections THE DEANERY OF HEYWOOD and MIDDLETON 1 Clergy and 1 Lay Casual Vacancy on Diocesan Synod, owing to resignations of George Etugo and Rev d Jackie Calow, were filled by Rev d Maureen Thorp (Proposed by Canon Philip Miller and seconded by Sister Frances Guite) and Mr Jack Wilson (Proposed by Mr David Peace and seconded by Mrs Melanie Clegg). 8. Area Dean s Announcements St Margaret s 50 th Anniversary celebrations will be held on Sat 15 th with displays including a prayer footpath between the school and the church and Sun 16 th November when Bishop Mark will attend a Bring and Share lunch. All Saints and Martyrs are also celebrating their 50 th Anniversary on Sat 1 st November at 4:00pm, with the former Bishop of Lincoln, Bishop Bob Hardy presiding and Rev d David Sharples preaching. Food will be served after the service. Rev d Ian Taylor is in hospital and in need of our prayers. The AD has visited him. Rev d Sue Morgan, a year after her retirement as parish priest at Kirkholt, Rochdale, is to join the Langley Team as associate priest, on a 2 day/week basis, with special interest for the Burnside Centre. Rev d Maureen Thorp is retiring in 2015 and the AD thanked her and wished her God's blessing as she prepares for her retirement. There is to be a Deanery Quiet Day on 13 th Dec, between 10am and 3pm led by Rev d Sue Morgan at All Saints and Martyrs. Food will be provided. Tracy Marshall, an ordinand from St John, Thornham, has changed her studies now to become a stipendiary priest at the end of her course. She will be taking up a placement at St Michael, Tonge. 9. Borough Dean s Announcements Rev d Marcia Wall (MW) announced that she had been approached by the diocese to assist in the hosting of hustings before next May's elections. She is expecting to receive guidelines from Church house in the near future as lobbying rules had changed recently. She would welcome offers from any church to host a husting session. Guidance is available for the Dos and Don ts for such events. Speakers from the floor made a number of comments: There can be difficulties mixing religion and politics in places where racial tensions exist Schools can expect to become even more integrated into different cultures and religions to keep high ratings else they would receive lower ratings. This would apply to all faith school types. MW said that speakers were available to speak on Hindu and Judaism AD pointed out that Christian views could be represented as well. He also suggested that training needs improving for all those who lead school assemblies. He emphasised that these were big issues and needed our careful attention. 10. Deanery Pastoral Committee Report At the last Deanery Pastoral Committee meeting, at St Margaret, Heywood, the future shape of the mission and ministry in Middleton was discussed in detail. Reports on progress at Holy Trinity, Parkfield and St James, Heywood were also received. The PCC of Rhodes and Parkfield had voted 11:3 in favour of closure. Matters are now with the Bishop of Manchester who is considering the matter as part of the formal consultation period. MW commented that she had been as transparent as she could during the whole process. Parish Boundary changes for Rhodes and Parkfield were proposed by MW. It was agreed to pass this over to the Diocesan Pastoral Committee to progress matters further. 11. Financial Report Minutes Deanery Synod at the St James Heywood.docx Page 2 of 8

3 There had been no further progress in resolving the issues surrounding the treasurership of the deanery, since Mr George Etugo resignation from the Deanery Synod. 12. Diocesan Synod report No meetings had been held since the last meeting. 13. Deanery Advent production Mr John Pye reported that the United Christian Singers had offered to present Make Way for Christmas/The Gift written by Graham Kendrick to any church to help their mission at Advent. He had already approached Rev d Matthew Carlisle to see if St John, Hopwood would be a suitable, and available, venue to host the presentation on behalf of all the churches in the deanery. As this was the case, the meeting agreed to this arrangement and a number of members offered to be their church champion to help promote this event within their church. The date was to be Dec 6th at 4:30pm. 14. Main Topic: "Is your church visible?" Allison Bamford gave a most interesting, engaging and warmly received presentation talking about use of publicity, welcome packs, leaflets, signs etc. showing how churches could enhance the visibility in a wide number of areas. The talk was complemented by the use of large display boards fully populated with images to illustrate the points made. (See end of document for pictures) MW then spoke on how she was using the websites of both her churches and how she makes use of social media Facebook and Twitter to relay information and promote interest in both her churches. 15. Future events and meetings 16. Next Deanery Synod TBA 17. Any Other Business None. 18. Close The AD related a conversation with Mrs Jackie Broxton about St Thomas links with Canon Andrew White that Rev d Alan Broxton had nurtured about their current concerns of the profoundly moving events that were occurring on a daily basis in Bagdad, even though not now regularly reported on the news. Current information is available from a weekly blog, which the AD found deeply moving. Canon Andrew White, who suffers from both hepatitis and MS, is now asking for our prayers for the Christian community there. The AD reported that the Aug 4 th entry on Andrew White s Facebook page shows, in pictures, what is difficult to express in words The meeting closed with prayers at 9:05pm. Minutes Deanery Synod at the St James Heywood.docx Page 3 of 8

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