Churchwardens’ Review of the Year 2012

Post date: Mar 20, 2013 9:32:32 PM

Once again, St Mary’s has found 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. We wish to thank him for all that he has done and thank also the visiting clergy who have officiated at services.

The Village Quiz in February, Barbecue in July and the annual Autumn Fair were the three major fundraising events during the year and all of these were extremely well-attended and enjoyable. Thanks go to everyone involved in these events whether as part of the organising committees or through their support at them.

The PCC met 10 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 has been the Draft Pastoral Scheme creating a new United Benefice of Balderstone, Mellor and Samlesbury. We look forward to the Institution and Induction of Rev’d Dr Sue Williams and to close relationships between the committees and congregations of all three parishes. Significant progress has been made on All Age Worship and the creation of a new Children’s Corner. Less happily, a great deal of time has been spent on considering the urgent repairs needed to the Church and the very considerable costs these will entail.

The various organisations within the Church have continued to flourish, the Mothers’ Union, the Sunday School, Youth Fellowship and Little Angels. We are now actively supporting Montgomery Heights in Zimbabwe and the Blackburn Foodbank.

During the year Lorna Bowes resigned as PCC Secretary and we thank her for her work. Hilda Hilton resigned as Churchwarden after many years committed service and we are all grateful for what she has done and the time she has given. Her place has been taken by Jim Saunders. We welcomed Geoff Hill as Organist and his abilities are much appreciated by all.

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.

Despite scaffolding, repair work and dust, 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 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 and the readings and notices sheet has proved most useful. The Fair Trade stall continues to be held on the first Sunday of most months and the work of the “Card Ladies” is ever present.

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 the Virgin, Mellor, would not be the centre of our worship and witness.

Graham Tipper Jim Saunders

Churchwarden Churchwarden