St Mary's Church
Fairford

St Mary's Finances

A HUGE thank you to everyone who responded in such a positive manner to the appeal concerning the finances of St Mary’s. As you know, St Mary’s has for some while been running at a shortfall of £15,000 per year. The projected annual increase for 2013 is £14,000 plus Gift Aid making a total of just over £17,000. A splendid result!

Obviously, with inflation and rising costs we will need to keep an eye on the finances of the Church but, for now, this has been a most heartening result. Well done and thank you.

Churchwatch 2012

For the first time in some years, the number of recorded visitors to St Mary's dropped – partly due to a general reduction in the number of visitors to Fairford, the cancellation of the Steam Rally, concerts etc. in the church whose numbers are recorded separately and not as “visitors” and no special events such as the Flower Festival.

The highest number recorded was in 2006 (14,541) when one of our windows was on display in the Victoria and Albert Museum and there was wide publicity on the TV and the newspapers.

Recent figures are:-

Our policy has always been to try and ensure there is a Steward on duty all the time the church is unlocked – primarily to “meet and greet” visitors but also to ensure the security of the church and its contents.

Once again, I would like to reiterate our thanks to the Stewards who turn out in all weathers to do their scheduled duty. It is a service which is very popular with the visitors and we receive many compliments about the assistance given by the Stewards. On the good side we meet people from all over the world and have interesting conversations – as well as their thanks for making their visit enjoyable.

We have lost a number of long-serving Stewards recently – and I mention particularly Denys Hodson who contributed in so many ways to St Mary’s and who was on duty as a Steward right up to the day before he died. We need more Stewards. Currently we have 31 people who do a regular duty and 16 people on the Reserves’ List. Could you or anybody you know add a name to either list and help us to maintain our service? Please contact Barbara Gibbs (email: ngibbs@talktalk.net) if you would be able to help. You do not have to be a member of the congregation of St Mary’s to be a Steward or a regular churchgoer – nor do you have to be an expert on the history of the church and windows. We have guides available for visitors who seek this type of information – the role of the Stewards is to meet and greet and be generally helpful on request with information about Fairford and the church.
Jo Williams

Charity of the Month:
Cotswold Care Hospice

Now in its’ 26th year, the CEO, Jules Eaton, describes the Hospice Mission as a specialist care provider to maximize the quality of life for those in Gloucestershire, both patients and families living with cancer and other life limiting illnesses.

As a leading independent provider of the full range of quality adult care services, the Hospice is an independent charity. In 2011/2012 £2.3 million pounds was needed to deliver services that are free of charge to all the people who use them. The Hospice services support patient families from the point of diagnosis onwards. This includes day therapy, counselling, education and a range of outpatient treatments. Care at the end of life is provided by their Hospice at Home Service and continues after death through a bereavement support programme. The Hospice at Home is the cornerstone of their work which is tailored to the needs of the individual and all aspects of their work is continually being updated and expanded.

Apart from funding support from the NHS Primary Care Trust and continuing Healthcare support, retail funding is an essential part of their income generation. In 2012, that funding accounted for 42% of their total income, coming as it did from their 14 shops around the county.

Many generous donors have been able to sign up though the Gift Aid scheme. Can you spare some money for the Hospice? There is literature on the shelf along the south wall. For more information write to the Cotswold Care Hospice Burleigh Lane MINCHINHAMPTON Glos GL5 2PQ. Tel: 01453 886868.

Thank you for your support. Volunteer workers are always in demand, perhaps you are able to help in some way?
Website.

Previous Charity Fundraising

The sum collected from the box in the Church for the February charity, The Prayer Book Society, came to £18.50 to which the PCC will add further amounts.

Annual Parochial Church Meeting

Sunday 14th April at 11.30am in St Mary's.

This is an important church meeting after the morning services; please make every effort to attend.

We will look back and review 2012. We will give thanks to God for all that has been achieved and thank so many people who work so hard to ensure that every aspect of Ministry functions properly.

But as well as looking back this meeting will look ahead to the challenges and opportunities that await us, to lay plans for the future and to discern where God is leading us. The Christian life is a journey, we are never still.

Part of the governance of the church is the Parochial Church Council whose function is ‘to cooperate with the Minister in promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church: pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical’. A wide brief!

Members of the PCC are at the heart of decision-making which affects the future direction of St Mary’s. At the Annual Meeting we will need to elect five members to the Council. If you feel that God is calling you to be part of this Team, Nomination Forms are available from the Parish Office. If you want to know more about what is involved, please speak to me or any existing member of the PCC.

Everyone on the Electoral Roll of St Mary’s is entitled to attend and vote at the Annual Meeting and I would encourage you all to attend - it is, as I have said, a really important occasion.
Brian

Parish Retreat

Thids year the Parish retreat will be the 1st - 3rd November 2013. It will be led by The Rev’d Dr. Mike Tucker.

Please contact Denny Rawlinson, 01285 711009 for further details.

Youth Service 7th April

For more details please contact Chris Saunders (S.C. T. M. Youth Worker) on 07918732040/ saundersc@talk21.com.

Jesus and Me Club, 14th April

10am St Mary’s Church, Fairford
Stories, craft,
fun and food
Every second Sunday
12th May

Messy Space, Sat 20th April

Crafts and Coffee Bar for Families

2.00 – 4.00 p.m. Fairford Community Centre

Adults & children (recommended 4 yrs upwards). £2 per child - maximum £5 per family.
A project of Churches Together Around Fairford.

X:siteSaturday 11th May

6-8pm
Kempsford Primary School

X:site is a fast moving, high energy event for anyone who is 7-11 years old.

Visit the website for more information and photos. It is organised in each area by a partnership of local churches and Scripture Union.

For further details contact Joanne Roberts - Tel 01285 711386

Summer Fete

The Fete is back again on a much smaller scale than the Country Fair of past. It will be held at Colnside, Horcott Road, Fairford by kind permission of Mr and Mrs David Perry on Saturday 13th July 2013 from 2pm to 5pm. Lots of stalls, teas, tombola, silver band, children dancing, large raffle and lots more.

If you would like to be involved, please contact either Edna Preece Smith 713692 or Heather Gorton 712428. In aid of St. Mary’s Church and Fairford Town Charities.

News March 2013
News February 2013
News January 2013
News Round-Up 2012
St Mary's News Round-Up 2012
St Mary's News Round-Up 2011