St.Mary, Alderley Parish Profile

St.Mary, Alderley Parish Profile

Contents CONTENTS Welcome page 3 About the Parish page 4 The Church its people & the community page 7 its buildings page 14 The area of Nether Alderley page 17 Where are we now: Financial Statement page 18 Areas under review page 19 Our Vision for the Future page 20 Our next Rector page 21 page 2 St. Mary s Church, Church Lane, Nether Alderley, Cheshire. SK10 4TW

Welcome St Mary's is much loved for its tradional worship, but must also look to the present and future growth of the congregaon. WELCOME We are delighted that you have chosen to find out about our church and the wide community of people who make up our Parish and our congrega5on. We are situated in Nether Alderley, a parish two miles from the neighbouring St Philips & St James parish in Alderley Edge, which itself is about 12 miles south of Manchester. Our joint benefice, St Catherine s, Birtles, is 3 miles away. We are keen to show you what sort of church we are and the wonderful heritage we hold for future genera5ons. We are blessed with magnificent buildings, from the 14 th century Church to an Elizabethan School House. Our Church and grounds are well maintained and provide a perfect se<ng for our various services which includes the tradi5onal, based on the Book of Common Prayer, and a less formal, family friendly service. A priest who is comfortable in ministering to a broad range of worship is an essen5al requirement. Some 70% of the congrega5on comes from outside the parish, a?racted by the forms of worship we provide. St Mary s also has a strong musical tradi5on with a choir at both morning and evening services together with a team of enthusias5c bell ringers both are in demand at the many weddings which take place throughout the year. We aspire to excellence in all that we do and we are especially proud of the work we have undertaken to conserve the Church s heritage. The church is a Grade 1 listed building in an area of special conserva5on and is much visited by people from near and far who value its beauty and history. However, although we have these wonderful buildings in a beau5ful se<ng, it is the people who are the true heart of St Mary s. The congrega5on has a strong sense of loyalty to St Mary s and they have a passionate desire to see the church thrive and develop into the future. We are looking for a cheerful leader who works well with people and can guide and lead the congrega5on in a firm, but friendly manner. We hope that the new incumbent will be ac5ve in both parishes, the Deanery, the Diocese, the local Churches Together and with pastoral work, visi5ng the sick, bereaved, lonely and aged. He/She should also be commi?ed to developing links with the young and comfortable with the range of worship in a two parish benefice. Please read on to find out why we think Nether Alderley is a wonderful place to live and St Mary s is a wonderful place in which to worship. page 3

About the Parish...the parish boundaries Remains of an old Saxon Cross in the Churchyard The Ecclesias5cal Parish of St.Mary, Alderley page 4 (Incorpora5ng the civil parishes of Nether Alderley & Great Warford)

About the Parish OUR WEBSITES St. Mary, Alderley now has two websites! www.alderleychurch.co.uk We recently launched the above site, which features the day to day running of the church. www.stmarysalderley.com In addi5on, we have a brand new site dedicated solely to St. Mary s heritage. UNITED BENEFICE We are a United Benefice with St. Catherine, Birtles which is in the parish of Over Alderley, just 3 miles away. (see their Profile) ST. MARY S ELECTORAL ROLL The Church Electoral Roll stands at 234 157 Non Resident and 77 Resident. ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF NETHER ALDERLEY AND GREAT WARFORD The Ecclesias5cal Parish is a rural community, which provides its residents with the pleasures of the countryside, whilst at the same 5me being within easy access of villages, such as Alderley Edge and Chelford, and towns, such as Wilmslow and, to a lesser extent, Macclesfield. Data from 2010 indicates that there are 1250 people living in the parish. The popula5on grew by around 12% between 2001 and 2010, as younger people moved into the area. www.netheralderleyparish.com www.greatwarfordpc.org.uk St. Catherine s, Birtles RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALDERLEY PARK The proposal to develop Alderley Park with new residen5al development (275 homes under discussion at present) will increase the numbers in the catchment areas of the primary school and the Parish of Nether Alderley. St Mary s Church and its Rectory will be within walking distance of this development and yet not impinged upon in its rural character. The recent purchasers of the Park have commi?ed to significant investments over the next 10 years, which could secure as many as 7000 jobs in Bio and Life Science Companies. This could offer further opportuni5es to extend the congrega5on and enhance the parish. Page 5

About the Parish CHURCHYARD The Churchyard is full so that no new burials are possible. However, there is some space for the interment of ashes. It is the focus of much visi5ng and care, and is well maintained. Adjacent to the Churchyard is the Parish Burial Ground, which is Local Authority owned. It has plenty of room for both burials and interment of ashes. It too, is well maintained. NETHER ALDERLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL St Mary's has had a long and much valued rela5onship with the only school in our Parish. The current Head Teacher, Richard Craven, is extremely apprecia5ve of all that has been done in recent years by the Rector of Alderley, and sincerely hopes that any new incumbent would con5nue to enjoy the close rela5onship with the school and carry this forward. The school has 90 children (full capacity 105). Religious educa5on is part of their curriculum. The collec5ve act of worship is mainly Chris5an, although reference to other religions and beliefs is made where appropriate. The Rector has previously run a whole school assembly every 2/3 weeks - tradi5onally with a short reading from the Bible, then plenty of audience par5cipa5on and some pupils taking on various roles. Learning by fun being a key theme! The Rector has previously organised pancake making / tossing on Shrove Tuesdays, much to the delight of the children and much fun has been had decora5ng jam jars for the Annual Fes5val of Light Service. Children from the school have gone on to be involved in the Church Sunday School. Whilst there are not many children in the Parish, the pupils from the Primary School have, during school hours, become very important children in our Parish community. The school holds its annual Carol Concert at St Mary's and the Head Teacher hopes that in future more services could be held in the Church. Pupils benefit from the close rela5onships which Nether Alderley fosters, with its partner schools such as Wilmslow High School and Fallibroome Academy, to take advantage of a number of different opportuni5es provided through the performing arts and sports. There is also in the locality, a number of other good schools. The Head Teacher very much hopes that a new incumbent would agree to become a Governor of the school, to fill the vacancy ler by our last Rector. This would involve two mee5ngs a term (Thursday evenings 2/3 hours). Page 6

The Church.. its People & the Community PERSONNEL Revd. Canon Loveday Alexander on secondment from St. Philip & St.James parish, Alderley Edge, to assist with a monthly family service Revd. Canon Peter Hunt Hon. Assistant Priest Mrs Fiona Robinson Second Year Ordinand, currently on placement. Mr Peter Reynolds Warden Mr MIchael Penlington Warden Mrs Jenny Youa3 Warden SERVICES St Mary s follow a central path of churchmanship. Sunday Av. A?endance 8.00am H/C BCP No service on 1 st Sunday 6 9.45am H/C BCP 1 st, 3 rd / 5 th Sunday 45 Family 2 nd Sunday 40 Ma<ns BCP 4 th Sunday 30 6.30pm Evensong BCP 1 st, 3 rd, 4 th,5 th Sunday 12 H/C BCP 2 nd Sunday (said) 12 Thursday 10.00am H/C BCP weekly 9 At 8.00am on the first Sunday of each month, members of St.Mary s congrega5on may join the other parish in the Benefice and worship at St.Catherine s. SPECIAL SERVICES Nine Lessons and Carols, Crib Service, First Communion of Christmas, Remembrance Sunday, Ash Wednesday Service, Service of Light, 18 Weddings, 15 Funerals and 15 Bap5sms (during 2014) CTIA Services (see below) CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ALDERLEY There are four different Chris5an churches and denomina5ons, but all have the same basic calling to worship God, to share the Good News about Jesus Christ and to work for the good of all people. So they oren need to work together, as well as co-ordinate the work they each do separately. When they do, they are ac5ng as Churches Together. Being Churches Together means more than that. It means commitment by each church and denomina5on to deepen its fellowship with the others and, without losing what makes each interes5ngly different, to work with them towards a greater visible unity. Churches Together in Alderley consists of Alderley Edge Methodist Church, St Pius X, St Philip and St James together with our own St Mary s. During the year we get together for combined services, the Good Friday walk of witness; the Easter Day Sunrise Service held outdoors on the Edge; Pentecost in the park and village carol singing. DEANERY MONTHLY CHORAL EVENSONG On the 2nd Sunday of the month, a combined Deanery Evensong is held. The Service rotates from church to church and hosts a combined choir. Page 7

The Church.. its People & the Community BELL RINGING St Mary s, Alderley has a ring of six bells, with a loyal group of bellringers of mixed ages and mixed experience. We are a keen team, who ring for half an hour before the morning service at 9:45am and half an hour before the evening service at 6:30pm every week. We also ring prior to and arer weddings at the request of the couple and occasionally for funerals. The highlight of our year is the tradi5on of ringing out the old year and ringing in the New Year. We ring a mixture of call changes and methods and prac5se every week, when we welcome visi5ng ringers from other local towers, and also encourage those wishing to learn the art of campanology. This year our team took part in the East Cheshire Six Bell Striking compe55on for the first 5me. We came second in the method ringing sec5on and third overall out of eight teams. THE CHOIR & ORGAN The robed choir sings every Sunday at Ma<ns and / or Holy Communion and Evensong, apart from the 2nd evening in the month. This is kept free for any members to join the combined choir at the Deanery service. Ma<ns and Evensong include Hymns, Psalms and Can5cles. The choir is also available for weddings and funerals when requested extra singers join us on these occasions, and also for fes5vals. The organ was fully restored and refurbished in 2008, and we are fortunate to have a full 5me organist. Nether Alderley Primary School Carol Service 2015 Visi#ng Choir 2015 Page 8

The Church.. its People & the Community THE JUBILEE COMMITTEE St Mary's Jubilee Commi?ee is tasked with raising the profile of the younger congrega5on. They have held Family Fun Days on the Church Paddock, run Fun Race Nights in the Parish Hall, and have also supported the Sunday School, when needed. They lay on a fantas5c Harvest Brunch arer the annual Harvest Service. This event, which is very well supported, is a much enjoyed social event in the church calendar. Their members willingly assist other commi?ees, where required, in running of events, etc. From the dona5ons received / raised throughout the year, the Commi?ee purchase the Christmas Trees for all the congrega5on to enjoy, and provide refreshments arer the Service of Light at the start of Advent. SAFEGUARDING The PCC has just approved the appointment of two Parishioners to the posts of Parish Safeguarding Co-ordinators, both of whom have appropriate experience. They are in the process of being approved by the Diocese but are pu<ng in place the basic steps required, and will audit the current ac5vi5es at St Mary once an approval is given. Both have undertaken recent training in Safeguarding. Christmas Fair 2015 Page 9 HEALTH & SAFETY The management of Health & Safety at St Mary s is carried out on behalf of the PCC through the Site and Buildings commi?ee. While the incumbent is primarily responsible for overall H&S Policy, one Churchwarden is responsible for the day to day running and administra5on. The Policy follows the guidance as set out in the Ecclesias5cal Insurance H&S Guidance, and is reviewed regularly. We are currently awai5ng our next Quinquennial report and will address any findings as necessary.

The Church.. its People & the Community THE SOCIAL COMMITTEE The Social Commi?ee of 8 parishioners helps to run the social life of the Church. Through regular contact by phone and word of mouth, the Commi?ee provide a network of friendship and support. They meet Quarterly, and organise assorted get-togethers throughout the year. These events, a?ended by between 14 and 24 people, include lunch ou5ngs to local garden centres, and soup and cheese lunches and arernoon teas at parishioners' homes. Anybody from the church congrega5on is welcome, but historically these occasions have been predominantly a?ended by our older parishioners who very much enjoy and look forward to ge<ng together, to meet new people, all in a very happy and welcoming environment. The Commi?ee members, with the invaluable help of other parishioners, provide tea and biscuits arer Sunday morning services, and man 'The Cafe' on the annual two-day Open Weekend in September. THE PCC AND SUB-COMMITTEES We have a keen and willing PCC which meets 4 5mes a year. It comprises 12 elected members and the Deanery Representa5ve who is ex officio. In addi5on to the PCC we are also fortunate to have Standing, Finance, and Site & Building Sub Commi?ees. MONTHLY MAGAZINE The PCC produces a monthly magazine. The circula5on of this is 200. Copies, past and present, can be found on the website. www.alderleychurch.co.uk We also deliver 700 newsle?ers to the whole of the parish at Christmas, Easter and Harvest. The Commi?ee organises two or three fundraising events during the year, one of which is the Christmas Coffee Morning, a?ended by a local choir, The Barnby Choir, who sing carols in the decorated and candlelit church. This is a joyous occasion, much enjoyed by the visi5ng choir! The Commi?ee, assisted by a regular team of parishioners, ran a Charity Lunch a?ended by 50 people, raising 900 for The Oasis Centre, our church's Outreach Charity. The Commi?ee also donates money to The Sunflower Fund at East Cheshire Hospice, and to The Poppy Appeal. The Social Commi?ee also supplement general Church funds, when possible. Easter 2015 Page 10

The Church.. its People & the Community CHURCH OPENING In addi5on to the weekly services, the Church is open every Sunday arernoon from Easter through to early October, when visitors can learn about the Church s history, and some5mes receive assistance researching their Family Tree! We also run an annual Open Weekend. CHURCH FLOWERS St Mary s is very fortunate to have a group of talented people in the congrega5on who are passionate about flowers and who are able to enhance the beauty of our lovely country Church. The team of helpers work throughout the year to decorate the church, but especially at Christmas, Easter and Harvest when the imagina5ve flower displays are magnificent. The decorated church is admired by many people who are not regulars in our congrega5on, but who come simply to join in our worship on these very special occasions. The decora5on of the church for Fes5vals can be viewed on YouTube. The Flower Fund Tea party, which is held annually during the summer on the Church Paddock, has become another highlight of the Church's social calendar. Page 11 MOTHERS UNION Here at St.Mary s, in 2011, we celebrated our 50 th birthday, and at this present 5me we are a happy band of 20 members. We meet every third Wednesday in the month, in the Parish Hall at 2.00pm and at many of our mee5ngs we have an interes5ng speaker, followed by a cup of tea and a slice of home-made cake! Twice a year we invite members from other local branches to join us at our mee5ngs. We also raise money to help support the various Mothers Union projects. Harvest Fes#val 2015

The Church.. its People & the Community WALKING GROUP OUR OUTREACH THE OASIS CENTRE St Mary s has for many years been suppor5ng The Oasis Centre in Gorton, Manchester. It is a community day centre, which works with a broad cross-sec5on of vulnerable and disadvantaged adults in East Manchester, and is based in the heart of one of the most deprived communi5es in Britain. The Centre is a lifeline for over 60 people a week, including families on benefits, the long-term unemployed, asylum seekers and refugees, homeless people, ex-offenders, and those struggling with addic5on problems or mental illness. Each month a walk is planned and led by different leaders. The number of walkers varies, but there is a hardcore of about ten people. Some live in the parish, some a?end St Mary s and some St Catherine s, Birtles. Those youngsters, who are willing and able to walk seven miles at a reasonable pace over rough ground and carrying their own rucksack, are welcome to a?end, with a responsible adult. We are very fortunate to be able to access the Peak District and other Na5onal Park areas within an hour or so journey. Tea and cake is a popular conclusion to the day s ac5vity. Several less mobile members of the church take an interest in the route and remember fondly their days of covering the same ground. St Mary s, through the Social Commi?ee, donates money raised at social events to The Oasis Centre. We have a basket in the Church which is regularly stocked by parishioners with basic essen5als including food items. A small group of parishioners makes regular visits to The Centre armed with supplies and items of clothing and furniture which have been donated by people within our local area. These girs, however great or small are welcomed with open arms and really do make a difference. We have a close connec5on to the Founder of The Oasis Centre, Victoria Armstrong, and she has been to speak to our parishioners to update us on the work they are doing. Page 12

The Church.. its People & the Community THE WILLOWS NURSING HOME The Rector plays an important part in the Chris5an Fellowship at the Willows Nursing Home in Warford, which is in the Parish. He works alongside the part 5me Chaplain at the home. The Rector normally takes a Communion Service on the last Monday of the month, and on this day visits residents in their rooms. If a visit is required on a separate occasion, the Chaplain would contact the Rector's office. Christmas at St. Mary s 2015 PARISH ADMINISTRATOR The Parish Administrator works 6 hours a week and is contracted to the PCC. She works on a one year rolling basis. Page 13

The Church and its Buildings THE HISTORY OF ST MARY S CHURCH St Mary s is a treasure trove, steeped in the history of ancient Alderley, and a?racts many visitors. Within the gates of the Churchyard stands a 1200 year old yew tree. For more than seven centuries, the church and the Elizabethan school house provided the village with educa5on, a cemetery, a safe haven and a place of worship. The porch and nave are the oldest parts of the building (AD1300). All the stone was quarried locally and the great roofs over the nave and aisles are made of Kerridge stone. The fine tower, containing a peal of 6 bells, was added in 1530, as was the unique barrel-shaped roof of the nave. At the west end of the nave, there is a magnificent musicians gallery (1803) which now houses the organ, presented to the Church by Lady Stanley in 1875. The church also possesses a unique 14 th Century Font. Like all great historic churches, St Mary s owes many of its unique features to the patronage of the local aristocra5c family - the Stanleys of Alderley. Their stamp on the church is everywhere, from the impressive family mausoleum in the grounds, to the memorial tombs of the First and Second Lord Stanleys in the sanctuary, but perhaps their most unique addi5on to the church is the Stanley Pew, elevated on the south wall of the Church like a royal opera box, and sumptuously decorated with red furnishings. (upper ler photo Steps leading to the Stanley Pew) (bo?om ler photo View from the South Porch) page 14

The Church and its Buildings THE OLD SCHOOL ROOM / PARISH HALL At the entrance to the Church Yard stands the Old School, a lovely sandstone building. This is the free school built in 1628 by Hugh Shaw, Clerk, and endowed by Thomas Dean de Park, January 1694. It is thought to have been built on the site of the ancient Court House, and is reputed to be men5oned in The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens. The School was where the boys of the parish were given the basic skills of reading, wri5ng and arithme5c. In those days the school was in what is now the kitchen and the School Master s accommoda5on was in the upper room. In 1817 a large room was added on by the Rev. Edward Stanley. in 1908 it was restored and presented to the parish by Lord Stanley of Alderley. It is now used as the Parish Hall and includes modern kitchen facili5es. There is ample occasional car-parking on the recently acquired paddock. The Old School Room / Parish Hall The Nether Alderley Parish Hall Joint Management Commi?ee (JMC) is responsible for the Management of the Hall. The Parochial Church Council (PCC) and Nether Alderley Parish Council (NAPC) elect three people from each of their respec5ve organisa5ons to the JMC. A Caretaker is appointed for the day-to-day running of the Hall, who reports to the JMC. In essence, the income generated from the Hall is expected to meet the running costs. The Hall is a?rac5ng a healthy level of regular bookings - weekly yoga classes, birthday par5es, wedding recep5ons, funeral wakes, Flower Club mee5ngs and Mothers Union Mee5ngs. The Hall is, however, in urgent need of refurbishment and restora5on to enable it to become more a?rac5ve to poten5al customers. The NAPC, following a recent mee5ng with the JMC, are about to begin discussions with Bruntwood /MSC, the current owners of the Alderley Park (ex AstraZeneca) site. Their vision for Alderley Park is that "it will be a 'Total Place', which combines employment opportuni5es with new housing, as well as publicly accessible local facili5es, new sports and leisure opportuni5es and community access to over 170 acres of previously private parkland". In June 2015 Cheshire East Council adopted a Development Framework for Alderley Park and Bruntwood are currently at the planning stages for redevelopment of the whole site. As part of planning restric5ons and considera5ons the Nether Alderley Parish Council has been approached as under Sec5on 106 of the Cheshire East Council Communica5on there may be money available for Community projects. In their recent Parish Plan the NAPC iden5fied a Wish List for projects/improvements within the Parish, and the Parish Hall regenera5on was high on their list. Were such monies to be forthcoming, this would be an amazing opportunity for the Parish and for the Church. Page 15

The Church and its Buildings CHURCH LAND Church Paddock well maintained and used for occasional parking. Car Park well maintained. Rectors Field in need of care and development. THE RECTORY It comprises generous accommoda5on with hall, toilet, two recep5on rooms, fi?ed kitchen and u5lity room downstairs. There is also a study (off the hall) which is currently used as the Parish Office. For security, there is a lockable door from the hall to the rest of the house. Upstairs there are five good sized bedrooms, 3 with washbasins, bathroom with bath & shower, and separate toilet. It is in good decora5ve order. There is an integral single garage with access from the u5lity room and ample addi5onal parking with gardens to front and rear. Ground Floor Plan First Floor Plan The present Rectory was created from the stables/barn of the former Georgian rectory when it was sold by the Diocese in 1989. It is situated on Church Lane, a quiet No Through Road, less than 100 metres from the church. We are a very sociable, welcoming church and value our close sense of community Page 16

The Area of Nether Alderley... NETHER ALDERLEY MILL Da5ng from the 12th Century, Nether Alderley Mill is one of the oldest buildings in this area. Villagers used to grind their corn there by kind permission of the Lord of the Manor. It was a working mill up un5l 1938 when Lord Stanley, forced to sell his estate to meet death du5es, relinquished it for sale. In the 1950 s the Na5onal Trust purchased the site and set about renova5ng it along with its Elizabethan 5mberwork and Victorian machinery. It has recently undergone another major restora5on. Page 17

Where Are We Now? Carol Singing In 21 years we have raised 20,000 for both local and na5onal chari5es St.Mary s also supports The East Cheshire Hospice Annual dona5ons to The Bri9sh Legion FINANCIAL STATEMENT St Mary s has currently a regular deficit each year of approximately 12,500. This is the amount by which the annual expenditure of 85,500 exceeds the annual income of 73,000. This income is made up of regular giving of approximately 40,000 both by standing order, gir aid envelopes and collec5ons on the plate. The balance of the income is made up of PCC fees, investment income, general dona5ons and fund raising. In 2014 the Church was fortunate to receive legacies amoun5ng to 9,613 and those, together with other special dona5ons, meant that there was an actual surplus for the year of 4,420. In 2015, so far we have received legacies and other special dona5ons amoun5ng to 18,000. In 2016 we have been advised that we will be receiving a further major legacy. As a result of this pa?ern of income our reserves stood at 228,956 at 31 st December 2014 and these should be sufficient to finance the St Mary s for the foreseeable future. The Statement of Financial Affairs and Balance Sheet are a?ached to this Parish Profile for further informa5on. A relevant issue, which could affect the viability of St Mary s, is that the church itself is a Grade 1 listed building and consequently expensive to maintain. However, whenever major expenditure is required in this way the money always seems to be there. As an example of this, in 2007/08 major repairs were carried out to the tower and the organ was refurbished. This work cost a total of 223,000 and the funds needed to cover it were raised within twelve months. During the interregnum, St Mary s currently pays a propor5onate 80% parish share with the balance of 20% being paid by St Catherine s at Birtles, as these two churches form a United Benefice. This eases the pressure on the PCC s finances when looking to the future. The total parish share for both churches during 2015 was 68,108. A significant number of weddings and funerals take place at St Mary s each year, which form the source of the PCC fees men5oned above. The fee income in 2014 was 9,445 and is expected to be at a similar level for 2015. We have supported Chris9an Aid for the last 30 years Regular collec5ons of essen5als go to the Oasis Centre We have raised 7450 over the last 15 years for the Children s Society (collec5on boxes) Page 18

Where are we now? We believe that St.Mary s is a church in which you will find the peace of God, and leave with His blessing AREAS UNDER REVIEW Sunday School and reaching out to young people For the last three years, the previous Rector held a Sunday School in the Parish rooms during Ma<ns, which a?racted young people of primary school age (each accompanied by a responsible adult). The children a?ending Sunday School had not generally a?ended the Family Service. However, some overlap has developed in recent 5mes. There is no Sunday School at present, as the parents felt unable to con5nue during the interregnum. A review of the Family Service is also considered necessary. While its inten5on is to offer a basic entry level of worship suitable for all ages - it is currently a?ended mostly by adults who value its simpler language in prayers, teaching and hymns. Encouraging people young and old to take part in singing, reading the lessons, taking collec5on, etc, was the pa?ern of a weekly informal service in earlier 5mes and many would like to see the youngsters taking part in this way in the monthly Family Service. We feel this is a sec5on of our congrega5on that we need to nurture, encourage and respond to. Home Visits The Social Commi?ee is the main outreach to bring people together with events throughout the year. Many of the congrega5on visit and help out those who are unwell, or unable to get out easily, but this is on an informal basis. Morcare has offered a telephone hub, pu<ng people in touch that could offer lirs, etc, to those requiring help to get to health/hospital appointments. It is currently under review. We hope that St Mary s con5nues to be a church, where visi5ng takes place and help is offered. Annual Crib Service Page 19

Our Vision Our Vision for the Future To support our Rector, giving him / her 5me and space to get to know us and to work with him / her to determine the right way forward for St.Mary s. To con5nue and strengthen our Church's tradi5on as a welcoming and suppor5ve hub in the community. To address the pressing need to increase numbers a?ending services at St Mary's in par5cular younger age groups. To review the current variety of services. A review of the Family Service is also considered necessary. While its inten5on is to offer a basic entry level of worship suitable for all ages - it is currently a?ended mostly by adults who value its simpler language in prayers, teaching and hymns. To be ever forward thinking and open-minded to ensure that St Mary's will con5nue to be a welcoming, happy church, in which to worship and to serve God and remain a treasured place within our community Our Vision and Rector Quali5es have resulted from the views of the congregants, expressed through an open invita5on to submit their ideas, comments and observa5ons. December 2015 Page 20

Our Next Rector Desirable Quali9es in our new Rector We are looking and praying for someone:- Who has a strong and deep knowledge of the Chris5an faith, enabling him/her to enhance the spiritual life of the church and encourage people to serve God and one another. Who is capable of providing a range of services from the Book of Common Prayer through to Common Worship. Who would be keen to encourage Bible discussion groups and teaching outside of services. Who is enthusias5c about pastoral work in the Church, and the local resident and farming community, To con5nue nurturing our links with the Primary school. Who will be warm, compassionate, approachable and a good communicator/ listener. Who is willing to work with the Wardens and the PCC and demonstrate diplomacy in a wide range of situa5ons. Who will look to increase the congrega5on and encourage people of all ages, especially the young to play a more ac5ve role in the church. Who has experience in parish work and, possibly, to have had a career outside the church. Who is a family oriented person with and, very importantly, a sense of humour! Our Vision and Rector Quali5es have resulted from the views of the congregants, expressed through an open invita5on to submit their ideas, comments and observa5ons. December 2015 Page 21

Lord, call to this church and yours a true shepherd, a person of God, a minister of Christ. Make us together, a church joyful in worship, united in witness, working, caring, praising, loving: to the glory of your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.