Churchwardens’ review of the year 2011

Post date: Apr 27, 2012 9:47:15 PM

This year has been a difficult year with Rev’d Paul Rolfe’s ill-health causing him to be absent from his duties for a significant part of the year and ultimately leading to his resignation and retirement on 31 December. So once again St Mary’s finds itself in an interregnum. However the parish has been blessed with ministry from Rev’d Roland Nicholson who has taken on the major part of the role of parish priest. During the year there were three major fundraising efforts starting with a Barbecue in July, the Art Festival and the annual Autumn Fair. Thanks go to everyone involved in these events whether as part of the organising committees or through their support at them. The P.C.C. met 6 times during the year. All meetings have been well attended and the details of the items discussed have been published in the magazine. One of the major topics discussed is the proposed reorganisation of the parishes of St Mary’s, St Leonard’s Balderstone and St Leonard’s the Less Samlesbury into a co-operative group with one priest-in-charge responsible for all three parishes. This is as yet unresolved with further meetings taking place in 2012. The various organisations within the Church have continued to flourish, the Mothers’ Union, the Sunday School, Youth Fellowship and Little Angels. During the year Ian Smith resigned from the position of Organist and Choirmaster and thanks go to Margaret Baldwin, Frank Ashton and Rosemary Potts who covered the role until the end of the year. June saw the culmination of the first stewardship renewal campaign for several years with a service of celebration led by Archdeacon John Hawley. The success of the campaign is reflected in the financial results for the year. The church school continues to provide a wonderful start to our children’s lives thanks to Mrs Taylor and her staff and we look forward to and enjoy their participation, together with that of our own Sunday School children, in our services.

The church continues to look attractive and welcoming thanks to our flower ladies and cleaners while the churchyard is maintained throughout the summer by the willing team of mowers. The church clock and chimes also continue to play an important part in the life of the village thanks to the care and attention they are given by Alan Bibby.

The parish magazine continues to flourish under its new editorship and the Fair Trade stall continues to be held on the first Sunday of most months.

During 2011 the P.C.C. has continued to investigate the replacement of the existing lighting system in the church, for both cost saving and Health and Safety reasons but the proposals discussed with the Diocesan Advisory Committee have not been agreed. The steeple was repaired and is now once again weather proof. However in September thieves took the lead flashings from around the four corners of the church and also caused damage to the roof over the vestry.

Thanks are again due to all those who help with our services, choir, sidespeople, servers, Nigel and the ladies who make the coffee for us not only after parish communion on the first Sunday of the month but also at the weekly coffee mornings.

Finally to everyone who has supported the church in any way during the year, and there are far too many of you to name individually, we hope you will accept this note of thanks and appreciation. Without you all, the Parish Church of St Mary, Mellor would not be the centre of our worship and witness.

Hilda Hilton Graham Tipper

Church Warden Church Warden