Annual Parochial Church Meeting
It was wonderful to see the church so full of people on Easter Day and heartwarming to read such a positive description of our church life and worship in the Oxford Mail the following day.
On Sunday, we will meet for the Annual Parochial Church Meeting in the Old Library. This will be the first face to face meeting since 2019. It will provide an opportunity for us to thank the many people who have contributed to the life of the parish in the course of what has been a very demanding year. We have wrestled with the ongoing challenges of the pandemic. We have completed vital repairs to the nave roof and south clerestory following the Quinquennial Inspection (a report on the state of the fabric which is undertaken by our architect every five years). We have begun to get our work with children and young families back on track with a new initiative, Godly Play. We have reviewed our safeguarding arrangements and welcomed a new Assistant Priest. The Revd Hannah Cartwright arrived in October 2021.
At this meeting, Janet Greenland stands down after a second term of office as Churchwarden. There will be an opportunity to thank her on Sunday. Margaret Chaundy steps down as Deputy Churchwarden and Safeguarding Lead. Margaret Lipscomb steps down as a member of the Parochial Church Council having coordinated much of the work of our volunteer welcomers over a number of years. Stephen Maughan moves on to pastures new and so steps down as one of our Deanery Synod representatives. It is good that many people have offered their services to volunteer for a number of roles, and I am so grateful for the energy, commitment and support of so many people in the course of the last year.
Please join us to find out more about the ongoing life of the parish and our plans for the future. And if you can’t join us, please pray for the life of St Mary’s and the vitality of our community.
For more information about the meeting and forms, click here.