St. James' Church - Trustees Annual Report for 2006

Duties of the Parochial Church Council

The PCC is responsible, together with the Incumbent, for reviewing and moving forward the ministry of St. James'. It shares with the Incumbent responsibility for deciding the forms of worship to be used in Church. It is responsible for collecting and administering all monies connected with the Church. It also arranges for the care and maintenance of the Churchyard and the Church Hall (largely through the Church Hall Action Team). In fulfilling its role the PCC should be a forum in which all considered viewpoints can be expressed and listened to courteously. It needs constantly to hold before it the challenge of the Gospel and to rely prayerfully on God.

Membership of the PCC in the year 2006

• Revd Philip Martin Incumbent Chairman
• Revd David Dennis Asst Curate
• Jean Mortimer Churchwarden
• Rosemary Schofield Churchwarden
• Nigel Cooke Treasurer
• Katharine Puttick Secretary
• Peter Hinton Deanery Synod
• Angela Larkins Deanery Synod
• Rosemary Schofield Deanery Synod
• Wendy Blandford Elected Member
• Peter Gowers Elected Member
• Christine Hensel Elected Member
• Angela Hibberd Elected Member
• Stephen Rothwell Elected Member
• Susan Walker Elected Member

In addition to the Annual Parish Meeting the PCC met on 7 occasions during 2006.

Assisting the Vicar with Parish work were Revd David Dennis Asst. Curate, Dawn Cox Sarum Reader, and Lay Pastoral Assistants John Cox and George Crouch.

Peter Hinton was also elected to serve on Salisbury Diocesan Synod.

Review of the Year 2006

Members on the Church Electoral Roll 160

Average attendance for Sunday services 82 adults 17 children

Baptisms 14 Marriages 6 Funerals 7 - 9 burials of ashes and 1 burial following service elsewhere

There were not any confirmations. On 5 Sundays attendance was recorded for Diocesan Parish Share estimation.

Shared occasions with all the Churches in the parish included Carols in the Village Hall, with the Salvation Army Band leading the music, a BBQ, summer walk , friendly football match, and meetings by representatives from each Church (known as the ‘ Alderholt Family of Churches' ) to consider how best to encourage a sharing of faith and understanding.

The new year began with prayers in Church and the final 2006th ring of the Church bell at midnight on New Year's Eve. Study during Lent was planned, with Pancakes and Chocolate sounding unlikely subjects. We commenced with pancakes on Shrove Tuesday and a showing of the film ‘Chocolat' ! This was the basis for home groups to use the book ‘ Christ and the Chocolaterie' by Hilary Brand . We pondered the questions raised, shared opinions, and enjoyed lively discussion and meditation together. A light-hearted ‘Choc Fest' meal after Easter brought all the groups together and a similar form of study was recommended for the following year. Our Lent charity raised funds for the Churches Housing Trust. Other charities supported by prayer and finance during the year were U.S.P.G.. Children's Society, Church Army, Bible Society, and Alabare, an organization providing support for the disadvantaged.

A Christian basics course in the autumn led by Vicar Philip, entitled ‘God Talk', continued personal study and devotion through music, readings, poetry and film. Two mid-week Fellowship Groups continue to meet for study.

St. James' First School was the venue for workshops during Holy Week. For three days some 80 children eagerly arrived for ‘Meeting Aslan', and to enjoy craft activities, singing, drama and preparation for a celebration service on Easter Day afternoon. Members of our Church serve on the Governing Body of St. James' First School, assist in the classroom and, with Vicar Philip, lead worship there each week. Classes visit Church several times in the year and close contact is maintained by our support at school events. We held our Christingle Service at school.

Junior Church was re-launched with a new name – ‘Jim's Pilgrims'. We cannot stress too highly the importance we place on the nurture and teaching of our young people. Their leaders have great enthusiasm and dedication, and the happiness of the children, when they come into Church on Sundays, following their time learning together, is a pleasure for all the congregation. A wildflower walk and picnic, modified by somewhat wetter than spring-like weather, followed the Mothering Sunday service. The occasion raised funds for breast cancer research.

‘Little Jims' for tiny ones, with parents and carers - met each week in the Church Hall. Past and present children and their families enjoyed a service and celebration party for the 15th Birthday of the group. Throughout the years our Reader, Dawn Cox, has wholeheartedly supported this group. Now she is stepping down, and it is hoped others will volunteer to take her place and continue this vital and friendly contact. Gifts to Dawn, with heartfelt thanks from everyone will, we hope, remind her of happy years with all the Little Jims.

The Vestry Group, for our young people from the age of 10 to 15 meet fortnightly on Sunday evenings. Their programme could rightly be called ‘energetic', not only for their activities but also for their approach to discussion, drama presentations, learning and, with their leaders, participation in church services and visits to other venues to experience different forms of worship. The Diocesan Youth Advisor visited to discuss the implications of employing a full or part-time Youth Worker.

Celebrations have made this year significant for our Church. At a wonderful service in Salisbury Cathedral, David Dennis was ordained Priest. David's first celebration of Holy Communion in St. James' the next day was a very special beginning for his ministry. A happy lunch party followed. Later in the year David's wife Linda was admitted as a Lay Pastoral Assistant.

Torrential rain and a storm beset the fete day at the start of our Patronal Festival week-end, but humour and good nature prevailed and everyone's hard work was rewarded. The Festival Services on Sunday were certainly a celebration of fun, friendship and worship for all in our community. The end of the ‘Key for All' refurbishment project and the installation of the long awaited Icons of St. James the Apostle and St. Michael the Archangel was marked with a Service of Thanksgiving and Rededication, lead by the Bishop of Sherborne, when we renewed our commitment to God's service for our Church and for ourselves.

The work of our Organist and choir, together with the group of young musicians who play regularly for Family Worship, and visits by our local Millstream Orchestra adds a vital dimension to all our services.

Our Church Hall, managed by the Church Hall Action Team, is a pivotal part of all our activities, and thanks to their constant care and attention is always a pleasure to use. It is much admired and commented on by our many visitors.

The five-yearly inspection of the Church building by the Diocesan Architect was completed. His report was encouraging as some of the items for attention are within the work of our competent volunteers. Certain repairs to the masonry, externally, will be done by a professional stonemason when the weather conditions are right. Certification to comply with Health and Safety requirements is almost complete, but some testing remains to be done to the electricity supply. The churchyard, so carefully maintained by our mowers, weeders and general working parties won an award again this year in the Best Managed Category. The notice boards in the porch (returned to the manufacturers for replacement of the faulty pin boarding) have details and photographs about our special flora and fauna. The front gates have been re-hung on new posts and further protective oiling for the wood will be completed in the spring of 2007.

In the wider community members of our Church are involved with the production of the Alderholt Parish Plan through the Steering and Action Groups. Every aspect of village life has been considered in a questionnaire sent to each residence. The Alderholt Parish News, produced by our Church on behalf of the PCC, carries information and current news for all the community from the organizations and clubs within the area.

Our Church is open for prayer throughout each day and it is our hope that everyone who visits will find the peace and strength for their need in the quietness, and a renewed sense of the presence of God in their life.