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CHURCHWARDEN’S REPORT
This has been my second
year as Churchwarden. As I write, we have a new Bishop
and Parish Priest designate and are preparing the
process to select a replacement Rector; interesting
times, indeed. I am sure I speak for us all when I wish
Dave and Carol every good fortune in his (second)
retirement. They have been with us for almost five
years and it has been fun. They have been just
wonderful. Giles, also, has been our Rector for ten
years. This is not an easy responsibility, as previous
incumbents might testify, but he has managed it well in
his own inimitable style. He will retire in May. The
whole parish has benefited greatly from their leadership
during their time here and they will be deeply missed.
In the meanwhile, the
life of St. Mary’s continues and it is well represented
in this booklet. I echo Giles’s and Dave’s thanks to
all of those involved. Our finances, so dependent on
the number of weddings, took a turn for the worse last
year and the threat of not being able to pay our full
Parish Share was a real and worrying one. Remedial
action was taken and I trust we will not find ourselves
in that situation again. The fabric of the church
continues to be in a generally good state; this is
helped greatly by the efforts of Bob Wright, Richard
Marks and the healthy state of the Restoration Fund.
Our congregation reduced last year but the attendances
in 2010 so far have recovered to an average of 35 adults
and 2 children. The Post Office and the Big Question
have shown what can be done with a little imagination.
So, life is good and I look forward to the coming year –
and the election of a second Churchwarden!
Lynne Ashcroft (231709)
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