Parish of Pointon & Sempringham

Church Secretary’s Annual Report

Calendar Year 2010

Prepared for the Annual Parochial Church Meeting of 27thApril 2011

Church Officers and other Personnel:

Priest in Charge:The Reverend Anna Sorensen (installed 2003)

Churchwardens:Mr David Hill (re-appointed 2010)

Mrs Ena Richardson(re-appointed 2010)

Deanery Synod Representative:Mr Keith King(re-appointed 2010)

(Also Church Secretary)

Elected members of the PCC:Mrs Liz Hill

(Also Billingborough Organist)

Mrs Gerry Mason

(Also Minute Secretary to the PCC)

Mrs Janet Lambert

Mrs Nan Davenport (elected 2002)

(Also Tourism Contact to the PCC)

Mrs Patsy King(elected 2003)

(Also Church Treasurer &Cornerstone Leader)

Vacancy

Other voluntary personnel (eg those leading children's work, youth work, outreach work, regular church or churchyard maintenance) for whose services we are most grateful:

Mr Wayne Chessum (St Andrews grounds maintenance)

Mr Colin Clayton (St Andrews grounds maintenance)

Mr Nigel Davenport (general maintenance)

Mr Michael Lingard (Christchurch grounds maintenance)

Mr Phil Wilson (St Andrews grounds maintenance)

Other paid personnel, giving regular services for which we are also grateful:

Pilgrim Mowers (St Andrews grass cutting & grounds maintenance)

John Fitzgerald (buildings maintenance)

Description of the worshipping life of the church, including the numbers of occasional offices (baptisms, weddings and funerals) and special services:

  • The Parish has two church buildings:
  • St. Andrews,Sempringham - the ParishChurch
  • Christchurch, Pointon - theMissionChurch.
  • St. Andrews was only used for Special Events in the winter months, due to the absence of electricity, water and heating.

  • The following Worship Services & Celebrations were held in the parish this year:

03/01/2010 / Christmas 2 / 09:00 / Christchurch / Café Church
10/01/2010 / Epiphany 1 / 10:30 / Christchurch / Holy Communion
24/01/2010 / Epiphany 3 / 16:30 / Christchurch / Evening Worship
04/02/2010 / Special Service / 19:00 / St Andrews / St. Gilbert's Day Compline
07/02/2010 / Special Service / 15:00 / St Andrews / St. Gilbert's Festival Service & Tea
14/02/2010 / Next Before Lent / 10:30 / Christchurch / Morning Worship
22/02/2010 / Special Service / 19:30 / Christchurch / Healing & Wholeness
28/02/2010 / Lent 2 / 16:30 / Christchurch / Fair Trade Worship
07/03/2010 / Lent 3 / 09:00 / Christchurch / Café Church
14/03/2010 / Lent 4 / 10:30 / Christchurch / Holy Communion
31/03/2010 / Holy Week / 19:00 / Christchurch / Compline
03/04/2010 / Easter Eve / 19:00 / St Andrews / Service of New Light
04/04/2010 / Easter Sunday / 09:00 / Christchurch / Café Church
10/04/2010 / Special Service / 13:00 / St Andrews / Baptism
11/04/2010 / Low Sunday / 10:30 / Christchurch / Benefice Communion
25/04/2010 / Easter 4 / 16:30 / St Andrews / Evening Worship
02/05/2010 / Easter 5 / 09:00 / Christchurch / Café Church
02/05/2010 / Special Service / 14:30 / St Andrews / Baptism
09/05/2010 / Easter 6 / 10:30 / St Andrews / Holy Communion
23/05/2010 / Pentecost / 16:30 / St Andrews / Evening Worship
29/05/2010 / Special Service / 13:30 / St Andrews / Wedding
30/05/2010 / Trinity Sunday / 10:30 / St Andrews / Benefice Communion & Baptism
06/06/2010 / Trinity 1 / 09:00 / Christchurch / Café Church
06/06/2010 / Special Service / 15:00 / St Andrews / Baptism
13/06/2010 / Trinity 2 / 10:30 / St Andrews / Holy Communion
27/06/2010 / Trinity 4 / 16:30 / St Andrews / Evening Worship
30/06/2010 / Special Service / 19:30 / Christchurch / Healing & Wholeness
11/07/2010 / Trinity 6 / 10:30 / St Andrews / Holy Communion
25/07/2010 / Trinity 8 / 16:30 / St Andrews / Evening Worship
17/07/2010 / Special Service / 13:00 / St Andrews / Wedding
01/08/2010 / Trinity 9 / 09:00 / Christchurch / Café Church
28/08/2010 / Special Service / 13:00 / Christchurch / Wedding
29/08/2010 / Trinity 13 / 10:30 / St Andrews / Benefice Communion
31/08/2010 / Special Service / 11:30 / St Andrews / Funeral
05/09/2010 / Trinity 14 / 09:00 / Christchurch / Café Church
12/09/2010 / Trinity 15 / 10:30 / St Andrews / Holy Communion
26/09/2010 / Trinity 17 / 11:00 / St Andrews / Harvest Festival
03/10/2010 / Trinity 18 / 09:00 / Christchurch / Café Church
03/10/2010 / Special Service / 15:00 / St Andrews / Baptism
09/10/2010 / Special Service / 11:00 / St Andrews / Gilbertine Mass
10/10/2010 / Trinity 19 / 10:30 / St Andrews / Holy Communion
17/10/2010 / Special Service / 12:00 / St Andrews / Baptism
24/10/2010 / Last after Trinity / 16:30 / Christchurch / Evening Worship
28/10/2010 / Special Service / 19:30 / Christchurch / Healing & Wholeness
07/11/2010 / Third before Advent / 09:00 / Christchurch / Café Church
21/11/2010 / Christ The King / 16:30 / Christchurch / Evening Worship
05/12/2010 / Advent 2 / 09:00 / Christchurch / Café Church
12/12/2010 / Advent 3 / 10:30 / Christchurch / Holy Communion
15/12/2010 / Special Service / 19:30 / Christchurch / Carols @ Cornerstone
24/12/2010 / Christmas Eve / 17:30 / St Andrews / Crib Service

These services can be grouped as:Weddings (3)Baptisms (6)Funerals (1) Communion (8) Special Worship (13) Café Church (10) Other (9)

  • The Parish has adopted Common Worship, and currently uses “Hymns Old & New” at St. Andrews and “Songs & Hymns of Fellowship 3” at Christchurch.
  • Most services were accompanied by Electronic Keyboard, with the exception of Group Services & 2nd Sundays at St Andrews, where the Billingborough Organist played the manually pumped pipe organ. On these occasions, the Billingborough Choir was usually in attendance.

Special events for fellowship, outreach and fundraising:

  • Our Sunday celebrations for the Feast of St Gilbert (Festival Service followed by tea) was supported from both within the Benefice and from further afield – notably by St Gilbert’s Catholic Church in Bourne.
  • The PCC again arranged theirannual Quiz Night in February for Church funds. The venue was moved to Christchurch, and a hot meal was served, both changes contributed to enlivening the event and increased the funds raised.
  • The PCC held their annual"Christian Aid Table-Top Sale", at Christchurch, on the Spring Bank Holiday Monday in May.
  • Thanks to Nan & Ena - St Andrews was opened to the public on most Sunday afternoons throughout the summer.
  • In August we promoted our second "Gig in the Garden" by kind permission of Pete & Annette Savill at The Old Vicarage in Pointon. We sold out, at 499 tickets, making the evening another great success.
  • The PCC accepted an offer from South Lafford Art Group to repeat the Art Exhibition that they first held in St. Andrews in September 2008. This second event was again well supported and enjoyed by all.
  • We held our annual Harvest Festival at St Andrews, in September, followed by a very enjoyable Harvest Lunch & Auction at Christchurch.
  • The Wednesday Singers kindly performed a enjoyable fund-raising concert of war-time and ABBA music at Christchurch in October. This event was also the launch of the "Christchurch Loo Fund" as we displayed the plans for the proposed extension and toilet in the north east corner of the building.
  • This year, Cornerstone hosted one outreach evening event: “Carols At Cornerstone”in December. This was a mixture of refreshments, stories, readings and requested Christmas music.
  • Cornerstone again arranged for their regulars to have a Christmas Lunch at the Old Ship Inn during December.

Other Milestones for the PCC

Following a few years of increasing problems – the organ bellows at St Andrews were refurbished in the spring.

Janet Lambert announced her intention to resign, as a Foundation Governor at Pointon School, in January. The PCC approved three new governors over the course of the year – allowing Janet to retire, with our thanks for her work, in the summer.

Quinquennial repairs continued throughout the year, including work on down-rights, guttering & the tower roof and upper door.

In September we received confirmation from The Crown that they are responsible for the fabric of the Chancel at St. Andrews – but not the decoration. They also confirmed responsibilities for the access road to St. Andrew’s carpark.

The September PCC commissioned two significant schemes. The first was for Graham Green to replace the outer doors at Sempringham, with the second being to David Wells to produce drawings for an extension with toilet at Christchurch.

Over the course of the year, the PCC compiled a letter and fact-sheet explaining the church finances and appealing for support. It was agreed to circulate to all addresses in the parish early in 2011.

Regular events led or supported by the church (eq children's work, open church):

  • “Cornerstone” openseach Tuesday morning. This is a drop-in for villagers and friends from 9:30 –11:00am in Christchurch.
  • We continue to open the doors at Christchurch every other Thursday evening for coffee, chat and company.
  • Christchurch continues to host three "Healing & Wholeness" services a year, which are run by the Ministry Team.

Provision for (a)child protection. (b)health and safety, and (c)disabled access to worship and events:

(a)The Priest-in-Charge operates a “vetting” system for those working with or near children. This system is operated on behalf of the PCC, but the details are not public to the PCC. Mrs Sally Newnham (Billingborough) temporarily held this roleduring 2010.

(b)The PCC has adopted a full Health & Safety Policy and also a Policy for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults.

(c)Both church buildings are accessible to wheelchair users.

Any major forward planninq by the PCC for church improvements. new facilities or outreach:

  • Following the previous decision to actively maintain Christchurch –we launched our project to add an extension to Christchurch, to install a toilet, during the autumn.
  • The order was placed in the autumn for a replacement assembly for the main entrance (outer) doors at St Andrews - to be made from a hard wood, dedicated in memorial to Eric Iredale and using a legacy received in 2009.

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