Stewards

Stewarding at St. Mary’s is a very pleasant, enjoyable and rewarding task and it can be an easy way to meet and become acquainted with new and existing members of the congregation.The most important part of the stewarding role is to ensure that all visitors are made to feel welcome as they arrive at the church! 

The University Church is a place of worship but it is also a popular and very busy tourist attraction. In order to ensure that there isn’t unreasonable disruption to worship it is necessary to restrict general tourist access to the church until a service has finished.

We need stewards for the 10:30am Sunday Eucharist and for some other services held at the church throughout the year. As they welcome members of the congregation arriving at the church door the stewards will also hand out the pew-slips and, when necessary, distribute anything else that might be required for a particular service, such as hymn-books, candles etc. Typically three stewards are on duty for a service. Currently a team of a dozen or so volunteer stewards operates on a rota basis.

During the service itself stewards assist with gathering the collection with each steward taking a basket round the church during the offertory hymn. 

Stewards are also responsible for a short list of other very simple and straightforward practical tasks concerning the service. For example, one of the stewards will distribute blue-gift aid envelopes in the pews prior to the service and ensure that the SERVICE IN PROGRESS sign is up outside the church as soon as the service begins.

We are always looking for more volunteers to join the stewarding team!  If you are interested, please speak to Paul Thompson, the Vicar or any of the clergy staff.