Christ Church Douglas-in-Parbold

Annual Report April 2007 to April 2008

Church Wardens Report - Derek Ashcroft & Frances McGucken

Prayer Newsletter - Lin Milne

PCC Secretary - Karen Selwood

Electoral Roll - Derek Ashcroft

Sound & Tape Ministry - Mark Townsley

Church Wardens Report: Derek Ashcroft/ Frances McGucken

Administration: Due to Derek working away during the week and only available at the weekend the administration aspect of the Churchwardens duties fell mainly on Frances' shoulders. Meetings with Diocesan officials and Church meetings were arranged where possible during the weekend. It soon became apparent that Brian would be retiring later in the year, on his birthday in fact, the 1st November. We heartily thank Brian, and Branwen, for their untiring efforts, support and teaching during their time here at Parbold. Brian's encouragement and the teams set up by previous churchwardens have enabled our church to function without difficulty during the last six months. Our heartfelt thanks also go to those who have contributed to, or taken part in, the services since Brian's retirement. We pray that this level of commitment will continue and spread throughout the church.

The first ministry team meeting took place in November to decide who could/would/should takeover some of the vicar's tasks. Most of these devolved to those who were already assisting Brian in his work. Contact was made with Michael Everett at Standish to arrange a Priest at each of our 8 am Sunday services.

Bread or wafers would be blessed at this service for 'Communion by Extension' at the monthly services at 10 am and Thursday morning. Margaret Atherton volunteered to produce the weekly notices. When Phillip Dennison from Shevington had visited he suggested that the ministry team should meet every month, to include Joanna as Youth Leader, and invited himself along to give guidance and encouragement.
In December we received notification from Bishop Nicholas that he would 'Suspend Presentation to the Laity'. We asked John Hawley, the Archdeacon, to visit and explain what this meant to the PCC and afterwards to the church. -The Bishop will not be presenting a new priest to Parbold to take over the role and function of Brian Harding-. John Hawley has suggested that one or two non-stipendiary church workers would move into the area and work within a 'cluster' of parishes, namely Standish, Shevington, Appley Bridge and Parbold.

In order to progress the Church Re-ordering it was felt that the church needed a vision, a way forward, to know where God was leading us. The re-ordering of the church needs to be progressed urgently otherwise we will lose momentum and opportunity. A week of prayer was organised with the church being open each day to encourage visitors to come in and look round, pray, chat etc. This took place in February and we had just short of one hundred visitors during the week. We are still waiting upon God for a vision for our church.

Brian, as full time vicar, had many tasks within the parish and the church. Most of these are being done by volunteers to whom we are extremely thankful. However there are other areas which need addressing, some simply to assist and relieve the pressure. If you feel called by God to help, please see Derek or Frances.

Buildings, Internal: The new cupboards and worktop has now been completed in the Vicar's vestry. As conversion to vestry cum office the church computer has been installed along with a laser printer and multi use copier-scanner. It is intended to connect the computer to the internet via telephone line but this has yet to be addressed. The church lighting has been upgraded to energy saving lamps. Work is in progress to remove some of the items around the church which are not ours or no longer of use.
Buildings, External: The leaks through the toilet block and vestry roofs have been repaired by a company called Roofscape. They have also cleared the gutters and made repairs to the Old School roof. The outside lights for access to the church and Day School during the hours of darkness are now controlled by timers and light sensors.

Prayer newsletter: Lin Milne
There were 10 editions of the prayer newsletter in 2007 with a break in January and August. Contributions are again varied and encouraging. It is always a blessing to share prayer needs and information about the Church, the Day School and people we support throughout the world.

Thanks to Brain, Branwen and Simon Harrison and anyone else who helped in the printing and distribution of the newsletter - costs for which are included in the printing and stationary section in the annual accounts.

I would encourage more people to request that they receive the newsletter via e mail to help keep the costs to a minimum.

PCC Secretary: Karen Selwood

The role of PCC secretary remains much the same with the sending out of information relating to PCC meetings, compiling the minutes and putting together the annual activity report ready for the annual meeting. There is no cost to this role except time!

Electoral roll: Derek Ashcroft

Due to the sad loss of two of our congregation last year, Brian Milner and Ann Woolfenden, the number on the electoral roll currently stands at 116. Of that total, 28 (24%) live outside the parish. There are only 5, that is 4%, young people now under the age of 21 listed on the roll. Sixty-seven members (58%) are women and forty-nine members (42%) are men. I have estimated that 41% of the members are of retirement age. I must stress that this is only an estimate!