Parish of Cirencester with Watermoor
And Chesterton

The Parish Church of St. John Baptist
This is one of the largest parish churches in the country and its imposing building dominates the centre of the town of Cirencester. Although there has been a church in Cirencester since Roman times, it is generally believed that today’s building was started in 1117.

Holy Trinity Church, Watermoor
During the 1840s it was felt that more accommodation was needed to cater for the growing number of worshippers in the town, so it was in 1851 that Holy Trinity was consecrated.

St Lawrence Church Centre, Countess Lilias Road
This church was similarly built in 1951 to cater for the needs of the many people in the developing area of Chesterton.

Further information on our churches, halls, activities and events are available in various publications on sale at the Parish Church Bookshop, the Corner Stone in Dollar Street and on the Parish web-site www.cirenparish.co.uk

 Heather Austen                     
                                     
                              

REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL 2007/8
The year began with great promise. At our first meeting in May we learned that there were nine applications for the post of Youth Minister, and that the Diocese was prepared to allow the Curate’s house at Partridge Way to be used. The second meeting in June included a well-attended Open discussion on The Major Works programme at the Parish Church. The PCC took the significant decision of appointing Craigmyle as the Fundraising Consultants.    The next meeting in September was preceded by an open-type discussion on Young people: a paper presented by PCC member Daniel Bristow. This type of PCC meeting, clearly favoured by the Vicar, Revd James Butterworth, continued a pattern established towards the end of the previous year when in four successive Open meetings the Vicar had presented his Vision for the Parish, the post of Lay Minister / Youth Officer was discussed, as were also Stewardship, and Holy Communion before Confirmation.

Regrettably the first three meeting of this year had taken place without an appointed Hon. Secretary: a problem that has not yet been fully resolved. However Mr Eric Sutcliffe has served in a temporary acting capacity from October to the present time.  The October meeting led to a decision to award the Contract for the Nave floor and other works to Ward & Co Ltd; a Policy for the safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults in the church was adopted and forwarded to the Diocese; and a paper was presented by the Vicar on Administration, Communication and Improvements which ultimately led to the creation of the post of Parish Administrator, replacing the previous post of Office manager.

The November meeting also began with an Open presentation by Mr Antony Feltham-King of Michael Drury Architects on The Renovation of the South Porch of the Parish Church, with Mrs Alison Giles, the Campaign Director of the Church Appeal in attendance. An update on the Parish Stewardship scheme was announced in which 55 new planned givers had joined the scheme and a projected increase of £37.6K expected. The Vicar said how immensely grateful he was to Mrs Pat Harris and the TRIO team. He also announced the expected appointment of a named Curate to the Parish in 2008; and his decision to consider the subject Ministry & Pastoral work as part of a 5-year Strategic Plan.

It was at the December meeting that the PCC learned of the Vicar’s illness, together with a number of issues that were causing concern. There had been problems with the appointment of the Youth Minister (the proposed candidate did not meet the Bishop’s criteria for a licence, and accommodation was not, after all, available) and the Vicar had resigned as ex-officio member of Powell’s School Governors. The Bishop had advised that he was unable to confirm the appointment of the Curate to the Parish in the light of current difficulties. Dr Martin Hockey, taking the Chair in the Vicar’s absence, informed the PCC that Revd Warwick Heathcote, together with the Churchwardens, would now be responsible for the good ordering of the Parish during this period. In the event, what had been expected to be a period of one month’s absence became extended up to March 31st when Revd James Butterworth accepted early retirement from his post.

The Parish was effectively without a Vicar, a Curate or a Youth Worker. The remaining clergy were stretched in their ministry and it would have been understandable if the PCC had lost heart. In fact the challenge of the situation caused the PCC, under the effective Chairmanship of Dr Martin Hockey, to re-examine its proper role in the running of the Parish. Whereas previously the PCC had met alternately with the Executive committee (which had taken a major role in decision making), it was now agreed to meet each month as a Full Council. The Executive Committee became redundant and a Standing Committee was set up to be used only in the case of emergency. The Finance committee and the Personnel committee continued their important functions, bringing decisions to the PCC for implementation. Under Rev’d Heathcote’s chairmanship a committee has again been pursuing the possibility of a Strategic Youth Minister (S.Y.M.) with the help of the Diocesan Youth Officer. The meeting in February agreed unanimously to place a bid for a S.Y.M with the Diocese. In the meanwhile St Lawrence Church was repainted and the Sanctuary decorated in time for the Parish Confirmation to be conducted there by Bishop Michael; Holy Trinity, Watermoor, had successfully completed its 2007 Quinquennial; a ‘Dust-buster club’ had been recruited at the Parish Church by Churchwarden Mrs Gledhill; and the Organ rebuild was proceeding to plan. Future plans included the development of a pastoral strategy   arising from  the  TRIO structure;  and  a  review of  the  Parish’s  property. Regrettably Mrs Anna Hedges, who has been our Honorary Treasurer since 2006, is retiring from the post. She has brought our finances to a most satisfactory state, and always entertained us with her lively presentations! We shall miss her on the PCC.

All five Churchwardens, who are central to much of the PCC’s work, have agreed to stand for re-election at the APCM, and the Deanery Synod representatives are agreeing to the Bishop’s request that during changes in the Deanery, continuity is maintained by keeping the same representatives. In the coming year there is going to be a great period of change and the PCC will seek to move forward, with good heart and in the power of the Spirit, to achieve God’s plan for the Parish.
                                                                                                  
Eric Sutcliffe

CHURCHWARDENS’ REPORT – PARISH CHURCH
In many ways, 2007 has been a significant year in the life of the Parish Church. In particular, there have been a number of memorable Services.

The wonder of Easter was gloriously celebrated in all the Services as well as beautifully displayed in the magnificent Easter garden constructed in the Trinity Chapel. Many thanks to everyone involved who helped us all to become an ‘Easter People’.

We were sad to lose the Reverend Katie McClure as she left the Parish to become the Chaplain at Cheltenham Hospital. At her farewell Eucharist, the Church was filled to capacity as we, both young and old, showed our appreciation to a greatly appreciated and much loved curate.

In September, an outstanding and moving presentation, given by Mr Don Pines, launched our TRIO (The Responsibility Is Ours) campaign. Under the chairmanship of Canon Pat Harris, a working party masterminded a programme involving many members of all three churches who acted as ‘Contacts’. Beginning as a financially focused project, this is now in the process of being developed into a network of pastoral outreach.

On Remembrance Sunday, the large number of both military and civilian worshippers were held spellbound by the preaching of Father James Bell a former serving soldier and now a Roman Catholic priest. This was the last occasion at which the Vicar officiated. In March, following four months of sick leave, the Reverend James Butterworth resigned on grounds of ill health.

The Church hosted many hundreds of visitors on the evening of the Advent Festival. Organised by the Chamber of Commerce, there was a full evening of events following the turning on of the Christmas lights in the Market Place by Lawrence Llewellyn Bowen.

An immensely joyous occasion was the Sung Eucharist on December 9th when we celebrated the 100th Birthday of Eileen Thompson, an active and dedicated member of our congregation. She had chosen the hymns and the music for this special service. The highlight for us, as Churchwardens, was to have the immense privilege of escorting this radiant and elegant centenarian up the aisle at the end of the service as the Reverend John Beck played a fanfare. The packed church demonstrated their love and admiration with a standing ovation, resounding applause and a heartfelt singing of ‘Happy Birthday’.

The Christmas services were inspiring and much appreciated by the regular congregation as well as by all the visitors who attended. It is at Christmas time, when we celebrate the birth of a baby and see how many young families come to the Crib Service, that we fully appreciate the dedication and expertise that is given throughout the year by those who run the FOG (Friends of God) Club. It is a hugely important part of the life of our Church to bring the message of Christ to our young people and we are immensely fortunate to have such a dedicated and talented team.

Our farming heritage was remembered and celebrated at the well-attended Plough Sunday Service in January. While Martin Green’s state-of-the-art 4-furrow plough was parked outside the South Porch, a single-furrow horse-drawn plough (kindly lent by Stephen Barton) took centre stage in the nave. The words of the Blessing, ‘God speed the plough’ help to remind us all of our dependence on the farming community.

But it is not just the major services which make the spiritual life of our church what it is. The daily Offices of Morning and Evening Prayer and the daily Eucharist play an enormous part in the spiritual welfare of the Parish. We are always intensely humbled and moved by the faithful example and sacramental discipline of those who attend these services regularly. These are people whose quiet witness is an example to each one of us.

This year has been a particularly difficult time for the congregation while the  condition  of  the  Vicar’s health concerned us all.   We can never fully  express our thanks to the clergy, retired clergy, readers and servers who upheld the high standard of worship and pastoral care.

We also want to thank the Director of Music, choir, bell-ringers, flower arrangers, sidesmen, stewards and all those who care for the building in so many ways. Without them, the life of the Parish Church would not be the ‘Beautiful’, ‘Peaceful’, ‘Stunning’, ‘Calming’, ‘Inspiring’ place we read about in the Visitors’ Book!

Finally, a personal thank you to the Assistant Wardens: Aileen Anderson, Derek Barnard, Teresa Davies, John Hobbs and Alistair Macdonald who have been particularly supportive to us during this very busy time.
 

Dr Martin Hockey and Mrs Elizabeth Gledhill