St Mary’s
Walsgrave
Hall Lane
Coventry
CV2 2AW
Diocese of Coventry
Annual Report 2008
The Parochial Church Council
(PCC) of St Mary’s presents its annual report and accounts in
respect of the year to 31st December 2008. The PCC is a charity exempted
from registration with the Charity Commissioners.
Background
St Mary’s PCC has the
responsibility with the incumbent, the Revd Malcolm Tyler, for promoting
the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and
ecumenical in the ecclesiastical parish of Walsgrave-on-Sowe in the
Diocese of Coventry. In addition they have maintenance responsibilities
for the Church Hall situated in Athol Road, Walsgrave.
Membership
Members of PCC are elected
by the APCM in accordance with the Church Representation Rules.
During the year the following
served as members of PCC.
Incumbent:
The Revd Malcolm Tyler Chair, ex officio
Other Ordained Staff:
The Revd Frances Tyler Member of Coventry Diocesan Synod, ex officio
Readers
Lorraine Baker ex officio
Sue Morton Deanery Synod member
Tony Thistlewood ex officio, Vice Chair and Secretary
Wardens
Barbara Hancox
John Aspden
Representatives on the Deanery Synod
Stephen Baker
Sue Morton
Sheila Wick
Elected Members
Betty Dakin
Karen French (until APCM 2008)
Mervyn Hancox Treasurer
Jean Hudson
Keith Lashley
Eve Stuart (from APCM 2008)
Kerry Tutchings
Ann Walker (from APCM 2008)
Committees
The PCC operates through
a number of committees or groups which met between full meetings of
the PCC.
The following committees
operated during the year:
Standing Committee
Mission Group
Fund raising Group
Worship Group
PLASMA
Church Attendance
The electoral roll was revised
during February and March. Numbers reported to the APCM in March were
122, of whom 50 are not resident within the Parish boundaries.
The average Sunday adult
attendance counted between February and April was 72. The average attendance
of those under 18 counted over the same period was 20. Over the same
period the average adult attendance on Wednesday morning was 14.
Review of the year
The full PCC met 9 times
during the year with an average level of attendance of 66%.
Finance has continued to
be a worry for PCC this year as it has been for several years. We held
a Stewardship campaign in June which together with increased rental
income from our buildings enabled us to make a modest surplus over the
year. The results of the campaign were however disappointing in that
although several new members were recruited to our giving schemes and
others increased their giving, the gains were almost entirely wiped
out by others who had either died or left the congregation. PCC acknowledge
that ongoing work will be needed this year to monitor our financial
position.
PCC have continued to receive
reports on the potential Church Hall development. Although no firm plans
are to hand the proposal before the Council is to offer a lease to a
developer to rebuild the Church Hall facility incorporating some rental
property. Whether this can be financed is yet to be decided.
During the year PCC were
asked by the Bishop of Warwick to consider welcoming a newly ordained
deacon to the staff in July 2009. After initial discussions with Malcolm
and the wardens it was agreed that Stella Bailey should serve her title
at St Mary’s from July 2009. PCC will be responsible for her parochial
expenses but the diocese will finance her housing costs. It is hoped
that a house will be purchased soon after Easter for Stella to live
in during her time at St Mary’s.
During the year Mervyn and
Malcolm attended a deanery meeting to decide upon the levels of Parish
Share each Parish should be expected to pay in 2009.
In February we said farewell
to Hilary Iredale who had been on placement at St Mary’s for four
months. Hilary, from St Matthew’s Rugby, was an ordinand and will
be ordained this summer along with Stella.
Sadly our regular organist,
Reg Amos, became ill towards the end of the year and had to go into
hospital. PCC is very grateful to Margaret Davoll who played in his
place initially and to Colin Gardner who has agreed to play in Reg’s
absence in the meantime. Although now out of hospital and recovering
well, Reg has been unable to come to St Mary’s since his spell
in hospital.
Special events during the
year included the Wedding Preparation Day in February (for those preparing
to be married at St Mary’s), and the Bereavement Service in November.
Both were well attended. It was however a particular joy to celebrate
a marriage in the context of our weekly Sunday service in February.
Blaise Ndikumana married Noella Mulonda in a splendid service notable
not least for Noella’s outfit but also for the shoes of one of
the wedding guests! The Christmas Fayre in November was well patronised
and raised over £2,700 towards the redecoration of the church
itself. Harvest gifts were donated to the Coventry Peace House and Open
Hands whilst toys from the Toy Service in December were donated to the
Salvation Army. During Lent two groups met on Wednesday (one in the
morning and one in the evening) to discuss a Lent book based on the
film Chocolat.
Coventry City Salvation Army
Band again held a concert in September which raised a significant amount
for both the Church and the Salvation Army. PCC’s thanks again
go to Gary Croshaw and his team for organising this. In the summer Owen
Vigeon also organised a concert The Last Rose of Summer which was also
well received.
This year we have had several
quiz evenings hosted by Val Ekin. These have been much enjoyed by those
who have taken part. Val is keen to host more evenings in 2009.
In December Mel Smith and
others cooked Christmas Lunch for about 40 people after Church one Sunday.
This was much appreciated by those who came and it is likely that similar
events will be held in 2009.
Money collected through the
Annual Christmas Card was donated to the Baptist’s Church Christmas
Lunch.
During the year the following
number of occasional offices were conducted at St Mary’s
Weddings (including 1 Blessing
of Marriage) 16
Funerals in Church 24
Funerals at the Crematorium 9
Burials of cremated remains 4
Baptisms 44
Members of the congregation
and ordained staff have continued to take Holy Communion to members
of the Parish at home during the year but it was sad that the Beavers
were unable to sing Carols at St Martin’s Nursing Home because
of the sickness in the home on the night they were to sing..
Classes have visited the
Church from Walsgrave Primary School, and Sir Frank Whittle School.
Services have been held at Christmas, Harvest and Easter for Walsgrave
School. Alison Liggins, Gill Tompsett, Malcolm Tyler and Lorraine Baker
have continued to represent the Church as Foundation Governors at Walsgrave
School. Malcolm regularly leads collective worship in school assemblies
at Walsgrave School and was asked during the year to lead the Harvest
assembly at Pearl Hyde School.
For and on behalf of PCC
Malcolm Tyler
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