APCM 2024
APCM REPORT 29[TH] APRIL 2024
ST ANDREW’S CHURCH EASTERN GREEN , ALLESLEY GREEN & PICKFORD GREEN
APCM 2024
VICAR’S REPORT
APCM’s follow the calendar year, so I will try to restrain myself from getting too exited and talking about the many things happening this year!
2023 was a real year of transition. At our last APCM I talked of our need to learn more about mission and to actively make this part of our focus. We embarked on a year of learning together about what mission is, and about the call of the whole church, not just a few. We have prayed about mission, and learnt about what it means for us as individuals and as a church, and by God’s grace started on that journey, taking steps to go out into our community, delivering welcome packs to the new estate, putting on social events to make it easier to invite friends, and beginning new initiatives, with a particular highlight being the start of the new Tots group.
We have started to see new people joining and taking steps of faith and I hope that this has been an encouragement to us all. It can feel dauting stepping out, perhaps doing things we wouldn’t have thought of, but although it may feel hard, this gives us the assurance that it is God who does the work. There is a buzz about church on a Sunday morning which is the sign of a happy church, and what many may not realise is that the church is open and often busy during the week as well.
Schools work, bereavement group and tots group and funeral ministry mean that most weeks there will be several things going on midweek as well. As on Sunday. Our schools work is building with regular collective worship, teaching and school communions. I am grateful for our two new foundation governors, Naomi and Julia, who have done an excellent job of getting stuck in, and to Lynette and the bereavement group and prayer team members who have worked so hard to build those two aspects of St Andrew’s life, and to Paul who has been working behind the scenes to improve our technology for our administration. There is much to be thankful for, all this busyness does mean however that more people will need to step in and help if we are to continue to grow.
Stepping out in mission is about walking with God in the places we are called – usually places we already are. All mission is about relationship, we have to build the trust of others if we are to have meaningful conversations about faith, or if we are to invite friends to church events. The great thing about this is it’s not about doing new things, but about praying about what we are doing already and how God might already be working, then joining in!
I would like to thank all of you who have journeyed with St Andrew’s over 2023. All who have helped, whether you have taken on something new, or continued serving for another year, I am profoundly grateful for your support and encouragement. There are so many who do something I can’t mention everyone, but I would particularly like to thank our Sue our Reader and Nick and Rebecca our Wardens and Julie our Administrator, all of whom contribute a great deal of time effort and prayer, and make the work of the vicar that much better.
Jo Joyce Vicar
APCM 2024
ELECTORAL ROLL
The electoral roll this year is still seeing some adjustment post covid as the church numbers settle. Next year, 2025 the whole roll will be fully revised, as is the requirement every 6 years. Whilst the numbers on the roll have dropped a little, this is because there is a lag from those who have left being removed while a number of newcomers to the church are yet to apply to join the roll.
The total membership has reduced slightly from 90 last year to 77 this year. There were 14 removed and one add back.
Of the 14 removed there were 6 resident in the parish and 8 none resident. The person added back is none resident.
Of the 14 removed;
5 worship elsewhere
1 death
6 TBA (reason not known)
2 in Care Homes
Dale Bennett
Electoral Roll Officer
APCM 2024
CHURCHWARDENS REPORT
Before I started my report I had a look to see what I wrote last year. In 2023 I started the report by using a football analogy, saying that it felt like a game of ‘two halves’. The first half of the year was spent focused on stabilising ourselves and the second half on building the church. This year it feels like a year in which we have seen growth, which is great, and we have also looked to develop ourselves as a congregation to prepare for the opportunity for mission and further growth. It is the first time that I can remember that we have invested time in preparing ourselves for the future.
I hope everyone reading this report has felt that one of our main priorities this year has been looking at, preparing for, praying about Mission. The next few years will be turning this preparation into action within our Parish. One of the main people leading on this area is Sue Masters and I’d like to thank her for the work she and Jo have done in helping us to think about and question ourselves about the role we can play in this central plank of our Christian faith.
The preparation we have undertaken is to show that everyone can play their part in mission work. One of the most powerful ways is through our everyday conversations with people we meet and showing what our faith means to us. When was the last time you told someone, you go to church and invited them to join you? Could that be the start to someone exploring their faith.
This year has seen our church numbers grow, with our average Sunday Communion numbers increasing. Christmas services were again, well attended with an increase on the previous year, which had been the highest since 2017.
Our Worship For Everyone service on the first Sunday in the month now has an established congregation, including some young families. The service has activities based upon a theme of the week and it’s a chance for people to move around the church and meet more people. The youngsters who attend love the freedom.
The new Tots Time has become established, running twice a month on Thursdays. It’s a very informal time for parents and grandparents to bring their babies and toddlers too.
It has been a blessing to see our outreach and social activities growing over this year. Thank you to all those who have led Home Groups, Bereavement Group, Prayer Team, and organised social activities. These are an important part of our Church life. They encourage people in their faith and connect with people in our parish to show our church is alive and our faith in action.
A special thank you to those who visit the sick in our parish. Although in the past this was very much considered the job of the vicar, it is in fact an important part of the work of the church family, to visit people, on behalf of the church. Another example of where we see lay people involvement, is taking Holy Communion to those who have not been able to attend church, and I’d like to thank Sara Parkes for taking this ministry forward.
APCM 2024
We continue to stream our services for those who are unable to attend church due to ill health or other reasons. This is an important ministry for this group of people, and I would especially like to thank Steve Martin and Paul Crowe for their skills in this area.
We are fortunate to have a very dedicated group of people who support our church, including those who make teas after our services, act as Sidespeople, play the organ, clean the church each week, visit families enquiring about Baptisms, and help in the many other forms of ministry and we thank you for your help. If you fancy helping, then please have a chat with Rebecca or I and we will certainly be keen to bring you on board.
I would like to finish by saying thank you to Jo for all her hard work over the past year. When you first join a parish, it takes time to understand what the parish and church are all about. To make the contacts and build relationships with organisations before you can start to really lead the church. This year we can see the benefits of the work Jo has been doing over the past couple of years, especially with her strong connection with our parish schools.
Jo has driven a stronger social media presence, and this has improved the visibility of the church within the parish, the benefits of which can be seen through the contacts we have received from people, and those who have said they “saw it on Facebook etc”. So, thank you Jo for your leadership, support, and friendship.
We still have plenty to do, and need to maintain our church building, and pay our bills, all the practical things any family must do, and we as a church family are no different. However, if we continue to focus on the main responsibility of the church to make disciples, then Jesus will build his church.
St Andrews Church is a place we all love. It’s a church family we all belong to, and we find support, friendship, and closeness. As a church family we encourage each other in our faith and in worshiping God together. Let’s not be silent about it, let us be proud about it and let’s encourage others to become part of God’s family.
Nick Tooby on behalf of Rebecca Martin Churchwarden
APCM 2024
BUILDINGS AND FABRIC COMMITTEE
The past twelve months have been a busy one for the church fabric again. We have had several projects that have come to fruition (or nearly are) as well as ongoing maintenance work.
Church Wall – We have had to have the pillar rebuilt again. The work will be undertaken in April and we are looking at ways in which we can better protect it. The company whose lorry knocked it over accepted liability and so we didn’t need to involve our insurance company.
New radiators in the sideroom – Following issues with the heaters in the side room, the PCC voted to replace them in October. The faculty process has taken some time, but we will now be having them replaced with radiators later in April 2024. The cost of them will be met from church funds.
Removing of a tree – After a tree survey the Tulip tree ((Liviodendron Tulipfera) at the front of the church was shown to have severe decay. It was decided by the PCC to have it cut down as it was a H&S risk to the building and anyone walking along the path.
Guttering on the front of the church – There has been an ongoing issue with the guttering around the porch. This has caused damage to the internal paintwork in the church. We have sort advice from an architect and specialist roofing company. The guttering has been inspected and the joints resealed. This should resolve the issue. Once the walls have dried out then the internal walls can be repainted.
Church Cleaners – People always comment on how clean the church looks when they visit, and it doesn’t happen by magic! Thank you to Di Wilson, Nick Tooby, Becky Crowe, Jackie Lynch, Jean Richards, Pat Sullivan and Phil and Denise Davies. If you want to join the band let me know.
Appointment of an Architect – Our architect retired this year and so we have appointed a new architect Sarah Baldwin of Hawkes Edwards, Chartered Architects. She was included on a Diocesan list of approved Architects.
Building Reserve Fund - The PCC passed a resolution to build, using church funds, a building reserve fund, this has been achieved through careful budgeting last year.
We have been very fortunate for many years not to incur a major cost for replacing the roof, repairing the spire, or some other major repair. It is fair to say that one of these major repairs will happen at some time, purely due to the age of the building. This is the reason for the fund being set up to help mitigate such a cost.
Finally, thank you to all who have assisted this year in working parties to tidy the churchyard and undertaking ongoing maintenance in and around the church. Also, those who have spent time sorting through cupboards, to clear out the clutter that gets collected. I’d especially like to thank Steve and Rebecca Martin, and Di Wilson for their help.
Thank you for those who provide flowers for the Altar, especially Julia McNaney, who oversees the rota and church flowers when there are gaps.
Nick Tooby
APCM 2024
TREASURER’S FINANCE REPORT FOR 2023
Firstly, I would like to thank co-treasurer Jackie, our Administrator Julie, Jo, the Churchwardens and the Finance Committee for their valuable help and you the congregation for your generosity throughout the year.
FINAL ACCOUNTS FOR 2023
The accounts presented are for the period 1st January to 31[st] December 2023. These accounts have been checked by Harrison Beale & Owen Ltd and their report confirming no concerns is on page 6 of the accounts.
Opening Balance
On 1st January there was a balance brought forward of £11,904 of which £10,582 was for specific use, leaving £1,322 for general use.
Receipts
In comparison to 2022:
Church collections fell by just under £5,000. St Andys was transferred to St Oswald’s. Wedding & funeral fees fell by £5,400. Unrestricted donations fell by £3,400. Gift aid tax receipts increased by £1,200.
Fundraising receipts including a very generous Gift Day response for general use rose by £3,900 and a list of events are shown in note 2 of the accounts.
Many thanks to those who organised the events and those who supported them. Other receipts fell by £600.
Overall, unrestricted receipts fell by almost £9,300. Donations for specific purposes totalled just over £8,000.
Including donations from Allesley General Charities and Martha Flint Foundation and personal donations for the church roof repair, microphones and hymn books. Funds raised by Hymn-a-thon for specific use totalled £947.
Payments
Salaries fell by £6,800. Staff Expenses dropped by £1,600.
Printing & Stationery and Administration increased by £2,000. New hymn books were purchased and the Vicar’s noticeboard refurbished using specific donations. Premises costs were £1,100 higher due mainly to energy and churchyard costs. A tulip tree by the main door had become dangerous and was removed. Wedding and funeral expenses and assigned fees fell by £3,500. Professional fees were £2,300 lower.
Other costs were as last year. Our contribution to Parish Share fell by £6,000. Overall, unrestricted payments were £17,100 lower than last year. Major repairs and renewals in the year were for roof repair, microphone replacement and completion of porch door which totalled £5,300.
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Balance Sheet at 31st December
There was an unrestricted balance of £9,188. £6,500 of this has been allocated to reserves leaving £2,688 available for general use.
Restricted funds totalled £12,775. This includes £233 for live streaming, £947 from Hymn-athon for a new piano, and £11,795 for children and families work, education and welfare. Details are in Note 1 of the accounts.
In Conclusion,
We ended the year with a surplus of £7,866 compared to a loss of £670 last year. This surplus allowed us to start and build a reserve.
A reserve is necessary to meet the unexpected. Some parishes were able to fall back on their reserves when lockdown hit. We had no reserves, consequently, our ability to pay our full parish share was hit hard. We are currently paying about half of our full share. This means that we are being subsidised by the diocese and other parishes.
A reserve also gives us confidence to be able to reach out to our ever-expanding parish. To show our determination to resolve this situation, we presented a 5-year plan to the deanery treasurer. The first year of this plan was 2023. There were two targets: to pay £32,000 parish share and to have a reserve of £3,500. We met the first target and exceeded the second and we have stated that we will increase the parish share target for this year by £1,000.
We still have a mountain to climb but last year we left base camp and started our ascent and I have every confidence that with your help we will continue to do so. If you would like to contribute to the church on a regular basis, could I ask you to consider giving through the Parish Giving Scheme which allows us to claim tax refunds monthly?
Thank you.
Clive Murden Treasurer
A copy of St Andrew’s Church accounts for 2023 are included at the end of the report
APCM 2024
PARISH SAFEGUARDING
We are doing well overall with Safeguarding at St Andrews. As Parish Safeguarding Officer, I have to complete the Parish Dashboard which monitors progress against a range of categories. It covers Safeguarding training, Safer Recruitment and formal checks for all activities in the church and all people volunteering as leaders or helpers in these activities. The Dashboard generates an Action Plan that is shared with the PCC every month at their meetings. There are three levels on the dashboard and we are currently on Level 3, with a completed percentage of 99%.
I want to acknowledge the work and support of Julie Crow, particularly around safer recruitment and DBS checks as it takes a lot of time to chase everyone to ensure compliance. I also want to thank everyone for their forbearance in completing the required training etc. so that we can maintain our current high standards.
The new National Safeguarding Standards came out in November 2023. There are five standards which cover Culture and Leadership, prevention, Risk, Victims and Survivors and Learning and Support. The Dashboard will be amended so that the standards are used to measure all aspects of Safeguarding. Churches will be audited in 2025.
Also in 2023, an on-line training course about Domestic Violence was made available to all churches and the Diocese decreed that all church officers and all PCC members must complete the course. At St. Andrews we are about half- way through this process. Thank you to those that have completed the course to date.
There are no current issues that we are aware of regarding Safeguarding in the Church. As always, we remain vigilant in the protection of Children and Young People and anyone else who may be vulnerable for whatever reason. Contact details for the Parish Safeguarding Officer and the Diocese team for anyone who wishes to speak with someone are at the back of the Church.
Julia McNaney Parish Safeguarding Officer
APCM 2024
BAPTISMS & THANKSGIVINGS
The baptism team comprises of 4 trained team members - Jayne Nye, Lindsey Rawlings, Tracy Tooby and Susan Barnes. All members carry out baptism visits and verge at baptism services. Thank you to our wonderful baptism team for giving up their time for this role which provides support to baptism families, the vicar and the parish administrator.
2023 saw the baptism of 11 children at St Andrew’s with no thanksgiving services. So far for 2023 we have booked baptism services for 7 children, with further enquiries for baptisms underway. In addition, we had one adult baptism and one affirmation of baptismal vows take place on Easter Sunday following on from our Alpha course.
The baptism process is that when we receive an initial enquiry for a baptism, the family is requested to attend any service to collect the baptism literature. This for some people may be their first time inside St. Andrew’s Church. Once the baptism literature has been collected, a baptism visit by one of the baptism visitors can then be arranged to obtain all of the information needed for the baptism. Families are requested to attend church services on 3 occasions before the baptism. Baptism preparation takes place prior to the baptism, inviting all the parents and godparents for those children that are due to be baptised that month. This explains the baptism service and gives families the opportunity to ask any questions.
If you have any questions about baptism services please speak to the vicar, the parish administrator or one of the baptism team.
Julie Crow Parish Administrator
APCM 2024
PRAYER TEAM
As always, prayer underpins all that we are and all that we do. Since the tragic loss of our coordinator Lesley Lee almost exactly a year ago, the Prayer Team, under the spiritual guidance of Lynnette Clarke, has continued to pray regularly for the church: its family, its leadership, the parish and its mission. Once a month we meet to pray together for its needs, its welfare and future, for each other and for wider concerns of the community, the country and the world.
We believe we are a prayerful church, but we would also like to see the profile of prayer increased. To this end a number of initiatives have been instituted:
On the third Sunday of each month, we have continued to meet to pray before the morning service and to be available after the service to pray with any member or members of the congregation about any specific needs they might have either for themselves or for somebody else. Specific personal requests can also be submitted to the Team for prayer or can be recorded in the prayer request book, which has recently been placed at the back of church. We are currently planning to replace it with a specially designed and more permanent book, in memory of Lesley and to commemorate her significant contributions.
There is so much need for prayer in our troubled world today. In the light of this, we have also very recently initiated an open prayer meeting in church, (everybody welcome), which is held at 11.00am on the second Wednesday of each month, following the Midweek Communion service. Although very new and not yet attracting more than a very few, we do believe those who have attended have found it significantly helpful.
We are grateful for Jo’s support, and give thanks and praise to the Lord and the Holy Spirit for answers to prayer; and, as with everything, we put our future in His hands. We are always very pleased to welcome new members, who might feel called to a ministry of prayer, and we are delighted to have welcomed back recently two previous members of the Team. Do talk to Jo, Lynnette or any member of the Prayer Team, if you would be interested in joining us.
Jeremy Thomas on behalf of the Prayer Team
APCM 2024
SMALL GROUPS
Small groups are a way to grow our faith and understanding together and are a safe space to explore the Bible, our discipleship and mission. They are also a space to share fellowship and to pray together; we learn so much from one another and are blessed and enriched by the variety of insights offered.
There have been three small groups meeting during this year with these two currently meeting regularly. The groups have looked at range of things including Spiritual Gifts and how we can use them to serve God, Meals in the Bible, women in the bible and one group is about to start looking at and unpacking the Lord’s Prayer.
Separately from the home groups we have also held a day time Advent Group in Church, and access to the Diocesan Lent study was made available to congregation members,
During 2023 we also looked at the Growing Good Course as part of our focus on mission and outreach. We had twenty one people attend over the different sessions which helped us to think about St Andrew’s Presence, Hospitality and Adaptability. Our Parish Away Day developed our discussions as we thought about the next steps in mission and sharing our faith.
If you would like to be part of a Small Group, or want to know, more please speak with me.
Sue Masters Discipleship Coordinator
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BEREAVEMENT GROUP
Another successful year, we meet on the 2[nd] and 4th Tuesdays of each month. Members appreciating help and support not only from the team but also from each other.
Social occasions have included bring and share lunches and a quarterly visit to the pub on a Sunday, (a day many members find difficult).
In appreciation of this these meetings members organised a coffee morning, raising over £200 for church funds.
Numbers have grown making it necessary to offer a relevant programme to two groups, those who have been with us for a while and those more newly bereaved.
To make it possible to offer more places for the newly bereaved those who have been with us for about two years have generously agreed to leave the group and meet on 1[st] Tuesday of each month to attend our new initiative Open Doors, a coffee morning open to everyone including church members, friends, neighbours and people moving into the new estate.
It has been a privilege and delight to see lives changed in a positive way as people come to terms with a new and different way of life. We thank God for the presence of his Holy Spirit in all we do and ask you to continue to pray for us.
Revd Lynnette Clarke
APCM 2024
- DEANERY SYNOD REPORT 2003 24
Deanery Synod had three meetings in 2023-24. The first meeting on 17 May was held at St. John's Church Kenilworth. The second meeting was on Monday 9 October at St. James's Church Styvechale and the third meeting was on 5 March at St. John the Baptist Berkswell.
Future meetings are planned on 11 June at St. Christopher's Allesley Park and 14 November at St. Nicolas Kenilworth.
The meetings are structured as follows:
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Worship
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A presentation from the church hosting the Deanery synod
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3 short presentations from other parishes in the diocese
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Prayer for the four parishes
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A ten-minute slot for local business
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A speaker
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A closing prayer
Brief details of the meetings are outlined below. It is interesting to see the challenges and solutions different churches are facing and to realise that sometimes those are the same ones we face at St Andrews.
17 May 2023
Parish presentation by host parish - St. Johns (Rev. Andrew Attwood)
Lots of new people have become involved with the church, including asylum seekers. The key has been to make connections - taking the step from being welcomed to activities, such as the 'Friday drop in' , Oasis (regular meals with stories), termly community builders such as picnics and BBQs taking place within the church to attending services. The importance of prayer was emphasized. They hold Zoom prayer meetings.
Three parish presentations for prayer
Haseley, St. Martin's Finham and St. James's Fletchamstead. These three short presentations were structured around:
Battle - What is a struggle right now?
Breakthrough - Where can you see green shoots? (starting to happen)
Blessing - Where are you enjoying what God is doing? (what has happened)
Haseley (Hatton and Haseley) - Church Warden Anita White presented
Battle: Box pews, no water, candlelight (lighting needs updating), 2 services a month for many years, facilitated by reader Kemble Everett. Ageing congregation, people set in their ways, large number of occasional worshippers.
Breakthrough: Outreach October weekend, flower festival to bring people into the church and then introducing them to worship. Message - don't give up on those on the edge).
Blessing: Church is small and easy to heat, links with benefices (e.g. Rowington), attracting families in for festivals, e.g. Christmas and Easter. No plumbing issues as no water St.Martin's Finham presented by Matt Taylor (Vicar)
Battle: A leak and a complicated insurance claim.
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Breakthrough : Coffee shop, making first contact leads to not only commercial success but to individuals staying and then sometimes leading to baptism and church attendance and Alpha.
Blessings: Always something going on, coffee shop draws people in from the community, repair shop, volunteer readers, different groups so opportunities to spread the gospel .
St. James's Fletchamstead (Tim Pollard)
Battle: Steve Burch the vicar is retiring at the end of the year. Finances - reduction in congregation. Uncertainty of what the future will look like.
Breakthrough: New families are joining the church
Blessings: They host community groups and have a youth club and seniors' group. Sense of community is quite strong. They are good at greeting people. There is time during the service for people to share what God has been doing in the last week. Some good stories emerge from this.
Local business
1. Reconstitution of the Deanery Mission and Pastoral Committees - now to be called the Deanery Leadership Team. The committee will be made up of both clergy and lay people.
2. There were no questions, queries or ideas brought by PCCs, reps or clergy. If there is anything a PCC wishes to raise, then this is the slot where the deanery synod will consider it.
3. An Environmental Newsletter was sent out before the meeting. Parishes were reminded to complete their Energy Footprint Tool before the end of July.
Alive 2023 - Presentation by Sarah Ashleby
This two-day event took place on the 15 and 16 June at Stoneleigh. It was a Praise party for school age children followed by a picnic. It was aimed at years 3,4,5 and 6 (Key stage 2). Nine thousand children and staff were registered. It was organised by St. Stephens Canley and the Coventry Diocese's Board of Education.
About the day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94-2dOFTGYk&t=7s
9 October 2023
Parish presentation by host parish - St. James led by Rev. Josh Maynard
Battle - These concerned maintenance and cleaning of the buildings i.e. the Church itself, the Grange and the Church centre.
Breakthrough - Youth work is expanding. More young people are attending and bringing their friends, A grant has been received and a new full time youth worker appointed (Josh Lumwagi), A young adults' group has been formed and they are hoping to expand the social events to every week. There has been an increase in enquiries for baptism. Links are being instigated with schools (as St. James does not have a church school) and it is hoped that regular assemblies will be arranged.
Blessing - 25-30 people attended 'New Wine' and some have already booked for next year. Together with the other Churches in South Coventry, they celebrated Harvest.
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Three parish presentations for prayer: St Mary Magdalen, Chapelfields, Holy Trinity Hatton and The Assumption of Our Lady Ashow.
St Mary Magdalen, Chapelfields: Rev. Edward Le Brun Powell
Battle: Now that the pandemic is easing they are trying to recover the congregation. They lost 90% of families. Another challenge is that the vicar is 80% employed rather than full time and this is hard for him to adapt to.
Breakthrough: They have a mobile coffee project. It is a three wheeled Italian tuk-tuk that drives through the parish and serves coffee and provides an opportunity for chats with the community, It is a way of both raising revenue for the church and spreading the gospel. Divisions in the congregation appear to be healing and the vicar has witnessed generosity in the congregation.
Blessing: Seeing growth in faith, love and compassion and an increase in the number of new families .
Holy Trinity Hatton - Donna Bothamley (PCC Hatton, Chair of Local Governors of the School)
Battle: There are other churches in the Benefice - Lowsonford, Honiley and Haseley and all have separate PCCs. There is a need for unity. The buildings are old, large and in need of maintenance and cost a lot to heat. The churchyard is also a challenge to maintain. A few people organise everything,
Breakthrough :
A new vicar,Reverend Ann Peachey joined the church. The first church warden in five years was appointed in Hatton. A number of events have been arranged, such as a drop-in breakfast, school cake sales and going into schools. Church wardens are now meeting as a benefice and there is a benefice approach to the magazine.
Blessings: Energy has not waned.
The Assumption of Our Lady Ashow - Audrey Rowberry
Battle: Small congregation - 15 - 20 (seniors). There is a need to develop an all-age service. Money is needed to renovate the building. There is no running water in the church (although there is a river outside!).
Breakthrough : They now have a young energetic priest called Petrica Bistran. He is trying out different types of service (for example a healing service) and music (including his guitar playing) and has generated a positive response.
Blessings: Things are beginning to happen. A new family has joined the church and immediately got involved in activities and are heading up a fund-raising group. There has been a retreat and there is a cafe service once a month outside.
Local business
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The Kenilworth deanery is to be expanded to include Baginton and Bubbenhall.
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It was clarified that the Deanery Leadership Team would not be the means of making decisions about any parish reorganisation, boundary changes, clergy distribution etc. but in fact would only make recommendations.
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Rob Harrison - Nurturing Lay Ministry
His book, The Secret Disciple' was advertised.
The synod was information about a new initiative to encourage and recognise the participation of individuals from the congregation who are not lay readers, but have skills to carry out a particular task, for example leading a youth service. The idea was to turn the traditional triangular relationship with the vicar at the apex of the triangle upside down so that the emphasis was on the vicar being a servant leader. Three key words were used - Release, Recognise and Resource. There would be training available for those individuals.
Future Deanery plans proposal
Deanery leadership teams will meet in January, April and September
Standing committees will meet in February, May and October
Deanery Synod will meet in March, June and November.
The leadership teams and standing committees should feed back to the Deanery synod. In the same way, items of concern from PCCs could be fed up the chain.
5 March 2024
Parish presentation by host parish - St. John Baptist Berkswell led by Rev.Canon Dr. Mark Bratton
Firstly, he outlined a brief history of the church, which dates back to Norman times. construction began in the 12th century.
Battle - These were summarised as Covid, Stewardship and Competing Sunday priorities, which many other churches have in common.
Breakthrough - Two Children and Family Ministers have been appointed, Katy Goodacre and Selena Toor. They have instigated 'Stay, Play and Pray' sessions. These are attended by 18 children 0-4 years. Church wardens have now volunteered and relationships are improving with the local Church of England School, for which they have prepared a theological vision. They also have two new lay readers.
Blessing - They have a lovely building and parish centre attached to the church. They are financially secure and can always meet their parish share. They host a beer festival, which is a way of getting the local community into the church and breaks down prejudice and have a Silver Eco church award, which was driven by Jo Hands, who is Secretary of the Environment group.
Three parish presentations for prayer:
St.Barbara's Earlsdon, Warwick University Chaplaincy and Rowington
St.Barbara's Earlsdon: presented by Ian Leach
Battle: Struggle with local scout group who have been distancing themselves from the Church.
Breakthrough: Increase in number of house groups - now 7, that meet fortnightly - about 9 people in each group - that means that over 50% of the congregation are involved in home groups. The c=vicar sends out devotional emails.
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Blessing: There are about 50-55 children who attend the church, 15 pre-schoolers, 25, who attend with their parents to a Sunday a 5pm service and have a bring and share tea afterwards and activities. There is also a youth group looking at teenage issues from a Christian perspective and a small 16-18 group with similar aims.
There are new people coming to the church and there is evidence of a growing and deepening faith. All services are streamed, including to one care home.
Warwick University Chaplaincy - presented by David Hammond Area Dean
Battle: Gathering students, who find it difficult to find a church, supporting students when in difficulty and building relationships. Being valued in a secular environment.
Breakthrough : The Anglican church is the largest so tends to organise events.
Blessings: That there is a Christian presence on campus. Supporting staff and well being during reorganisation
Rowington (and Lowsonford) - Jude Palmer (Church Warden)
Battle: Traditional Anglican community, Aging Community. No School. Very expense heavy. Hard to grow congregation as village very expensive to live in.
Breakthrough : the new vicar Anne Peachey is driving forward change. They are going to run a first Alpha course.
Blessings: The community,being financially sound, having a good network of people. They are 'never knowingly undercatered'. Events include regular bring and buy book sales at the Tom O'The Woods Pub. Food Bank collections, a twinned toilet and an efficient wedding co-ordinator and organist.
Local business
It was suggested from the floor that there was insufficient time to debate anything at the synod and this would be reported to the diocesan synod. There was nothing fed down which could be discussed at PCCs and nothing was fed upwards from PCCs at the moment.
The Environmental newsletter was brought to the meeting's attention but not discussed. This highlighted the need for churches to complete their energy footprint tool, as there are grants to help with projects for saving energy. The Churches' Count on Nature was also advertised. This takes place on Saturday 8 -Sunday 16 June 2024. The idea is to celebrate and count the wildlife on your church land.
Esther Peers - Dean of Women's Ministry and also Associate Minister at Holy Trinity Leamington and an Area Dean.
The Dean of Women’s Ministry is a member of the Bishop’s Core Staff. She plays a vital part in advising the Bishop and helping the diocese to be an environment in which women in ministry flourish.
Esther works with both lay and ordained colleagues, and aims to ensure the diocese is a place where all women can flourish in their wide and varied roles in our communities and churches.
APCM 2024
This is the 30th anniversary of women being ordained in the Coventry diocese and a service of celebration will be taking place at the cathedral on 21 April at 16.00. The diocese was the second one to ordain women and 35 women were ordained. This was very controversial at the time. Women still remain under represented in leadership roles in the Church of England.
Women priests have to cope with sexist comments from their congregations. There is also a role for the church to play in challenging the media representation of violence towards women and girls. A culture change is necessary and Esther believes the nature of all women's organisations (eg. Mothers Union). overlaps and is interested in drawing off best practice.
Deanery Leadership Team Report
The team have met once and at the moment Kenilworth were fully represented by Coventry lacked some lay members. The team are at the stage of observing, looking and listening to assess the current situation in the dioceses. They are looking at the health of the churches. There may be some reorganization in the future but the Deanery leadership team can only make recommendations not take decisions.
Jill Joyce Deanery Synod Representative
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