Annual Report 2005

 

The Parish Churches of S Philip and S Augustine and S Matthew with S Mary the Virgin  Newcastle

 

Vicar’s Annual Report 2005

 

Preface

 

It is a standing joke in the voluntary and community sectors nowadays that the Chair’s annual report begins with a statement that this has been another difficult year.  I do not think, however, that this would give an accurate impression of life in the benefice.  Certainly, it was a hard year with lots of people giving generously of their time and skills and not everything moved as quickly as we might have wished; but I think 2004 was a good year here.

 

This is, in large part, owing to the generosity of spirit and good grace that characterises the congregations here in rather greater measure than is the case in many churches.  In spite of a number of setbacks, generally owing to circumstances beyond our control, we have made real progress and enjoyed substantial achievements.

 

Contributing to this has been a development of an identity that informs what we do.  I have tried to codify this in the booklet “Where we are and where we are going”.  Whilst this hardly gives and exhaustive account of the activity here, it does describe three main areas of concern that will occupy our attentions over the next few years.  This is important, because it will ensure that we do not fritter away our limited resources on too ambitious a range of pursuits that will leave none done well.

 

The PCCs have endeavoured to put in place structures and routines that will expedite the considerable administration that underpins the life of this benefice.  Progress has been partial, it has to be said, but the plans are still in place and, hopefully we shall be able to see advance on them during 2005.

 

Liturgical

 

It is an obvious aspiration for S Matthew’s to be a place of fine liturgy and it is one that we have pursued during 2005.  This comprises consistent excellence both in terms of individual events and also the programme of daily services.  2004 saw a  few lapses, but the signs are that the wrinkles are being ironed out and we can hope that we shall be what we say we are – namely an Anglican parish church in the Catholic Tradition. 

 

During the year Colin Brewis assumed the responsibilities of MC and this has lifted an amount of pressure from my shoulders.    We are also part of the way through organising the running of the sacristies.  A number of people give generously of their time to this aspect of our life, which is burdensome; and it would be good if a few more people had the opportunity to help share the load.   Aidan and the choir continue to sustain what is by any parochial standards a heavy load of liturgies and we should all be grateful to them for their hard work and commitment.

 

In spite of this, I have been concerned for a while that we might start losing our skills in the use of plainsong, since the attendance at Evensong stubbornly refuses to increase.  The PCC have agreed to a programme of practices prior to services on Sunday afternoons, which have just begun and which, I hope, will enable us to maintain a tradition that is unique in this diocese.

 

Attendance is generally encouraging at liturgies, though there were disappointing dips at Christmas and on one or two other occasions; the daily Mass also seemed at one point to be on the wane, but this situation seems to have recovered of late.  We need to remember that it is in the nature of a church like S Matthew’s that there will be a stream of visitors; precepts of courtesy and hospitality require us to ensure that there is a period of quiet before the services for them to collect their thoughts: we are getting better at this, but we are not there yet!

 

The big events were splendid indeed.  The visit of the Russians brought a new dimension to our worship that was truly inspiring; the celebrations of the various patronal festivals in their different ways brought home to many of us just how wonderful this church can be and usually is.  The visit of Bishop Peter of Worcester and Mrs Selby on S Matthew’s Day was very welcome and ensured the best attendance for a number of years.

 

The joint services have been particularly encouraging for me as both congregations gather to worship together, each secure in their own tradition.  The format that we used on Boxing Day may well provide a useful template for those occasions when the Vicar is absent on Sunday.  The Confirmation of Donna and Rebecca at the hands of Bishop Paul was a real joy and it is excellent that two such consistently regular members of our congregation have taken full membership of our community.

 

Another aspect pf our liturgy that has been very encouraging has been the development of intercession by members of the congregation.  The time that folks put into the preparation is evident.  Whilst I am sure that the task is initially daunting, the skill is quickly developed and it would be good if more people would volunteer to go on the rota, particularly at 9am where the talent pool is presently thin to the point of being threadbare.

 

Allied to this is the desirability of someone with access to a wordprocessor taking on the responsibility of co-ordinating the intercession offered by the parish day by day.  At the outset there would be an amount of work, but thereafter it would not be an overly demanding task.  Perhaps a volunteer will approach the Vicar this year …

 

Concerts

 

There were two concerts in church last year: one by the Hermitage Ensemble and one by the S James singers.  The Russians drew in a capacity crowd, all of whom went away completely satisfied with the evening.  The Mozart drew a smaller audience, though the biggest that they have had in a long while, which was similarly content.

 

This ancillary use of the building is an important venture on which we should build for a number of reasons.  A number of events, both liturgical and concerty are already planned for 2005.

 

Social Events

 

The social events that follow the liturgies are important events and we are indebted to those who ensure that they always run so smoothly.  In a church where the liturgy is deliberately formal so as to convey a sense of the great event that is unfolding, it is good that so often we meet afterwards to continue the celebration in a more relaxed way, enhancing our fellowship as a community of Christ.  When one considers that the general fund is never plundered to cover the cost, we can realize how generous people are.  The refreshments after Mass on Sunday, though usually more modest, are an important aspect of the worship, since they provide an opportunity to see one another – they are the appropriate place to catch up on news as well permitting the transaction of brief but important business.  It would be good if people could try routinely to pop into coffee, if only for a few minutes.

 

The provision of refreshements during the concerts was so efficiently executed and hassle free that it was hard to believe that they had occurred at all.

 

The visit to Amsterdam, organised by Anne Stewart, as well as fulfilling a longheld dream was a huge success, greatly enjoyed by everyone.  Indeed, so much of a success that we fully intend to repeat the exercise to somewhere else this year and hope to be able to arrange for us to be in Santiago di Compostella in 2006 for S James’s Day. 

 

The Building

 

An important element in our liturgical tradition is the building in which the worship is set.  There is still an amount of work to do on the roof, internal walls, guttering and tower and the East wall of the sacristies may well need remedial work in due course.  This is a slow old business for a number of procedural and financial reasons.  However, the sacristy roof has been mended and the Tower work is in hand.

 

The lighting also continues to be a challenge, not least because of the lofty location of many of the fittings making it difficult to change dead lamps – we had to get a firm in to attend to the chancel as the gloom became oppressive.

 

Another issue to which we must give attention – as required by law – is our provision of those with disabilities.  Due to the nature of the building, access is difficult without a large expenditure.  In due course, any work on the hall might afford us opportunities to address this issue; in the meantime, we shall need to instal handrails at the South door.  Likewise, we need to give some consideration to the provision of some type of hearing support system.

 

On a more positive note, the internal maintenance of the church has improved greatly during 2004.  The place is a lot cleaner and generally better organised.  Once again the many are indebted to the few.

 

Security of the building, both for people and chattels is becoming of increasing concern.. There were one or two incidents of slightly threatening encounters during the year and the PCC must have a proper regard to the protection of life and property.

 

The Heritage Open Days were less well supported this year than last.  Whilst, I suspect, to some extent we are at the mercy of whim, if time permits, we should consider what we can do to heighten the attractiveness of a visit to S Matthew’s.

 

CHAT Shop

 

The CHAT Shop is presently in a period of change.  The Trustees have spent an afternoon and a whole day reflecting on the present situation and the possible ways ahead.

 

The Trust is at the end of a three year period developing two social enterprises, using grants totalling nearly 1/4 million pounds.  The experience has taught us a number of lessons, which will inform any future plans.

 

It has to be said that the CHAT Shop Trust is not as strong as it might be, distant, as it is from its founding congregations and suffering from having failed fully to keep up with trends in the voluntary sector.  However, these issues have been identified and are actively being addressed.

 

Hall and Toy Cafe

 

One of the positive developments during 2004 was the development of a relationship with the Toy Café, currently part of the CHAT Shop work.  If this continues, we shall see it result in a complete restoration of the Hall. 

 

Not only, would this see an initial input of capital to restore the fabric, but also the removal from our responsibility of at least part of the maintenance and also some modest income in terms of rent.  I also hope that during the course of the work, we might be able to address the problem of disabled access through the installation of a lift.

 

The Hall would find itself as the location of a number of community enterprises, ensuring that for the first time in many years, the building would be fully used and we would be seen to be in partnership with organisations that were addressing issues that are properly the concern of those who proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Whilst this is clearly an excellent prospect, it will make an impact on our own use of the premises, since they would effectively be leased to another organisation and we would become, to all intents and purposes, tenants, albeit with privileged rights of access.  Over the next couple of years, we shall need to show ourselves to be dependable partners to ensure the success of the venture.

 

Nearly New Shop

 

Obviously, these potential developments would touch directly on the work of the Nearly New Shop.  After many years of sterling work, Jean Denholm has now retired from the work, earning our great gratitude for all that she has done and achieved with others in overseeing the work.

 

Jimmy Sharman has agreed to continue the work and hopes to re-open the shop sometime in the late spring or early summer.  The PCC has rectified the ambiguity over the status of the shop, making it an arm of the church’s work, ultimately overseen by the PCC.  We should be quite clear that the twin functions of the shop, both a social service and fundraising for the S Matthew’s, and hopefully, in due course, he will enjoy the support of members of the congregation in making its running a success.

 

One of its objectives, however, must be to develop sufficient revenue that it can, in due course, sustain the rental of other premises, since the proposed Hall development will need to include the space it currently occupies.  There would be further benefits for us in having such a site.

 

Parish Office

 

The room behind the kitchen is being transformed into an office, both for the Toy Café and the church.  Once this is ready, we hope to install therein not only equipment, but people to operate it to ease the present heavy burden of administrative tasks that falls on just a few shoulders.  Once again, this will be dependant on volunteers.

 

The maintenance and servicing of the mailing list that has borne much fruit in drawing people to events is obviously an important work; and we should be exploring ways of developing its use, perhaps by the selective distribution of the parish magazine and other publications.  Presently, this is all done from the Vicarage.  I consider it important enough to give it many hours, but there would be a clear benefit of the task being shared with others – not least to avoid some of the errors that almost inevitably creep in when one rushed person seeks to execute a time consuming task.
 

Publicity

 

Raising our profile is clearly an important aspect of our work.  The success we have had during 2004 in attracting visitors has been very encouraging and we need to build on this.

 

We agreed a change to the format of the magazine at the beginning of 2004.  This has been implemented in part, but it is disappointing that the whole publication process resides at the Vicarage PC.   There was a wealth of unreported activity in 2004; regular, ideally unsolicited, contributions from those who have organised or attended events would be much appreciated so that the magazine can offer a flavour of what we are about.  The magazine would become a much more effective communicator of who we are if we could develop this.

 

The handbook is an important means of conveying hard information about forthcoming events.  I would prefer for it to be published a little earlier in the cycle than it is, since then items at the beginning of the period would not be advertised at such short notice.  I have started sending copies out to selected people on the mailing list.

 

From time to time, other documents are despatched (eg Christmas cards) and all of this keeps people in touch.  The down side is that it all costs money.  This is presently sustained by the Vicar’s stipend, but the cost is gently rising beyond his meagre resources, which is something the PCCs will need to consider in due course.

 

We undertook some modest leafleting of the parish before Christmas and we have begun to explore ways of advertising ourselves in other ways, but much more work needs to be done and, once again, it would be useful to have someone dedicated to overseeing and coordinating this – not doing all the work.

 

The website continues to proclaim our presence on the superhighway and has certainly provided information for some of our visitors.  It has been expanded considerably during 2004 and if the opportunity arises, we shall consider possible further developments.

 

Relations with other churches

 

We continue our contacts with Dilston Road Methodist Church.  It was a pleasure to welcome the Revd David MacDonald to preach on S Philip’s Day; it was only a pity that a few weeks later he and his family returned to the USA.  There have been other invitations, but these do not always enjoy a healthy response – some of the Methodists seem better at coming down here than we do at going to them, but we must and shall persevere.

 

The CHAT Shop provides a forum for engagement with them as well as the Roman Catholics and the Baptists.  As I said above, this is not exploited as well as it might be, but this is one of those things that will probably take time.

 

The growing relationship with S Paul’s Whitley Bay is encouraging.  They attended Corpus Christi and S Matthew’s Day in some numbers and we went there for S Paul’s Day and another Corpus Christi(!) as well as the Ordination and first Mass of their curate.  There is every prospect that this arrangement will continue, which is good.  Attempts to work with S John’s Grainger Street have proved more challenging, but there was a goodly number of their congregation present on S Matthew’s Day.

 

The Deanery

 

Engaging with the deanery seems to be an ever more exasperating experience.  Following our submission, there was a day conference at All Saints’ College about the matter.  The best that can be said was that there were a lot of people there.  The whole process seemed to have moved back several stages and the day itself saw little progress.  Later in the year task groups were established to look at various aspects of the deanery and from their work, we are to be asked again to offer some reflexion.  It is difficult to maintain any interest in this haphazard process; but if we take our eye off the ball, we could encounter unfortunate developments.

 

One of the first fruits of the enterprise was deanery evensong at Holy Cross, Fenham.  It was hardly an inspiring event – though, again, there were lots of people there.  There will be another service this year, at Holy Spirit, Denton and the intention is that it will become an annual event.

 

We were also summoned to take part in the Springboard experience.  Whilst many found it enjoyable and/or beneficial, I think it is right to say that the contingent from here were bemused as to what it was all for.  The diocese plans a number of follow up events.

 

Finance

 

The treasurer will deal with this matter in more detail.  The finances are not brilliant, but we have paid our way this year; though we have relied on a number of one-off bits of income – legacies, the residual funds of the Nearly New Shop and a grant from the Bishop.  The building will, alas, throw up bills next year and so we will need to be very careful about maximising our income.

 

The good news is that for 2005, S Philip’s quota stays more or less the same and S Matthew’s drops to its 2003 amount.

 

Both fayres performed very well indeed and we are indebted to those who organised them.  There is, however, a question as to whether they are held at the best times in the year.

 

Although it will not directly impact on our income or bills, the S Mary the Virgin Trust is approaching the Charity Commission to inquire as to whether they can increase the contribution that the trust makes to my stipend.

 

The Vicar

 

2004 was a busy year during which I had to turn my attention in a number of directions.  I now have a place on the DAC and the DEB and a number of their committees; I continue to sit on Moorside Governing Body and the S Mary the Virgin Trust.  These responsibilities take up a goodly amount of time.  The CHAT Shop has also consumed many hours during 2004 and will continue so to do for the foreseeable future.

 

In support of my various roles, I attended a number of courses during 2004.  As well as the last half of the Common Purpose course, I participated in a number of courses, including two weekends, on governance and management of voluntary sector organisations.

 

People

 

The announcement of Father Elliott’s retirement came as a blow, but it was good that we were able to bid him and Mrs Elliott farewell from the archdeaconry in some style.  I hope, however, that it will not be his last visit here.

 

The deaths of Ron and then Audrey Bell marked the end of an era for S Philip’s.  In both cases, I think that it is right to say that it was good to see the end of their distress, but their loss to us was immense.  Their funerals were moving events and, hopefully, fitting tributes to their respective places within the community.

 

There is a long list of people to whom we owe a debt of gratitude for the hard work and commitment that underpins our ongoing life here.  For form’s sake, I thank the wardens for all that they have done – and that has been considerable; for the rest, please here my thanks and appreciation – and that is immense.

 

Finally, we should give thanks to almighty God for all the blessings, which He has bestowed on us and pray that we may be good stewards of the resources of time, talent and money that He entrusts to our care.

 


 

S Matthew’s Church – Building Report 2004

 

Aidan Evans

 

 

During the past year there have been numerous works carried out on the premises. In summary, these include (but are not limited to):

 

 

It should be noted that the works to the sacristy and office behind kitchen could have been completely avoided if regular maintenance had been carried out. The problems which became evident were a result of neglect to maintain this area of the building for approximately 10 years. In order to prevent future problems occurring in other areas of our demise, a routine maintenance programme is being drafted.

 

During 2005 there are several areas of work which are either being considered or are already underway at present:

 

 

 

Broadly speaking, the tasks detailed on the above list fall into 3 separate categories:

 

 

1. Legally required works

We must give immediate attention to the production of an asbestos register, and the assessment of DDA and H&S requirements.

 

2. Works associated with keeping the buildings watertight

The task of making the buildings watertight also demands immediate attention. If unchecked, the ingress of water will continue to cause significant damage to the fabric of the building – ignoring this problem will lead to considerable expense in the long term and irreparable damage being caused in some areas.

 

Many of the problems linked with water ingress would not have occurred if, over the last 10 years, regular maintenance had been carried out on the building. It is the intent that once the above works have been completed, the schedule of maintenance will eliminate the need for remedial works to be done as frequently as is required at present, thus saving money in future years. At present we face considerable expense caused by a backlog of maintenance (much of which costs nothing other than the time of the person(s) volunteering to carry it out).

 

3. Other works

Any other works of internal reinstatement, decoration, refurbishment etc. are of secondary importance. There may be no use in giving attention to some of these until the building is watertight as the ingress of water would cause the problems to arise again.

 

Summary

Over the past year a great deal of work has been carried out in order to bring the premises back to an acceptable standard.  Although much has been achieved, there is still more to do, and the longer it is left, the higher the cost of reinstatement will be. Any offer of assistance with these works would be greatly appreciated. Not all of the work is at high level, and the majority does not require a great deal of practical skill. Any person who wishes to find out how they may assist with these tasks should contact Aidan M Evans.


 

Fabric report for S Matthew’s Parish Church

 

Anne Stewart

 

The fabric of S Matthew’s church remains in a sound condition.

 

2004  saw a number of additions to our fabric and fixtures: a new green frontal for the High Altar was made to match the green vestments, and a green carpet was fitted to the top step in front of the High Altar; the Sacrament Chapel Altar now has a Super Frontal, purchased in memory of Father Joy from a gift left to S Matthew’s; we also received, as a gift, a pair of Biers for use at funerals; towards the end of the year the Servers received new cassocks and cottas; S Philip’s  kindly donated their hassocks to replace some of our very old ones.

 

We now have an updated Terrier of all fixtures and fittings in church, along with photographs of all plate and other valuables.  This also includes all items which belong to S Philip’s.

 

In August the Rural Dean, Fr Jackson, paid us a visit to inspect our building and fabric etc. and was satisfied with all that he saw.

 

During the course of the year a regular pattern of cleaning in church has been evolving, usually after Mass on the last Saturday in the month. Any extra helpers for cleaning will always be very welcome.

 

My thanks to all those who carry out the many and varied tasks which contribute towards the upkeep and maintenance of the fabric within S Matthew’s church.

 

Churchwardens’ Report – Ss Philip & S Augustine

 

Liz Black and Barry Larking

 

Fr Richard’s organisational flowchart has given the four wardens a good idea of what their roles are in the benefice and would seem to be working fairly well.  Aidan Evans jnr and Anne Stewart do a great deal of very valuable work, keeping us up to date with the state of repair of the building.  Thanks to the warm welcome from S Matthew’s congregation and the willingness to share everything with us, we now feel very much at home and happy to be in S Matthew’s Church.

 

We lost some key members of our congregation during 2004 and, while our numbers are not very high, we feel that we are, at the moment, holding our own.

 

In last year’s report we thanked Fr Richard for the wonderful funeral service that he led for Ron Bell.  Later in the year, sadly, we held a funeral service for Audrey Bell.  Again, thanks to Fr Richard from all of us, he made a very sad occasion into a wonderful memorial for a lovely lady.

 

 

Secretary’s Report - Ss Philip & S Augustine

 

Liz Black

 

Meetings have been well attended and the matters for discussion were varied.  We made positive decisions about our charitable giving early in the year.  Fr Richard and our volunteers keep us well-informed about the CHAT Shop and where it is heading.  We have appointed Joyce Lowery and Margaret Redhead as official sacristans and this has made a great deal of difference, for the better, to our services.

 

The joint meetings with S Matthew’s have enabled us to share in the decisions being made with regard to the use of the Church Hall, the Nearly New Shop and upkeep of the church building.  All of this has strengthened the ties between the two parishes as we work together with S Matthew’s.

 

Your secretary was missing for quite a few weeks in the year due to illness and would like to thank Fr Richard for his forbearance as he took on all of the administrative work at this time.

 


 

Secretary’s Report for – S Matthew with S Mary the Virgin

 

Alex Peebles

 

 

Membership:

 

Father Richard Deadman (Vicar & Chairperson)

 

Mrs Lavinia Campbell

Mrs Jean Denholm until date of AGM

Aidan W Evans Esq

Mrs Margaret Evans

Dick Foster Esq (and Deputy Chairperson)

Mrs Betty Platt

Dr Paul Swansbury

Ms Anne Stewart (and Warden)

Ms Anne Walker

Aidan Evans Esq

Allen Mundangepfupfu Esq (re-appointed Treasurer on 6 May)

Roger Mundangepfupfu Esq

Alexander Peebles Esq (re-appointed Secretary on 6 May)

Michael Hardy Esq (until 20 February)

Mrs Jean Denholm (until AGM)

Jimmy Sharman Esq (from date of AGM)

 

Average attendance – 83%

 

Average attendance at joint meetings – 91%

 

All meetings were chaired by the Vicar

 

Committees of the PCC

 

Standing Committee:  The Vicar, the Wardens, Allen Mundangepfupfu, Alex Peebles and Dick Foster

 

Finance & Fund raising: The Vicar, Anne Stewart and Allen Mundangepfupfu

 

Buildings & Fabric: The Vicar, Aidan Evans, Dick Foster, Tony Stewart and Anne Stewart

 

Communications: The Vicar, Alex Peebles and AidanW Evans and Annie Walker

 

Social Committee: Ann Stewart, Margaret Evans and Betty Platt

 

The committees met at various times during the year (with the exception of the Standing Committee) and, where they have been presented, committee minutes are available with the PCC minutes. 

 

Business of the PCC

 

Finance and Fund Raising

 

Financial matters have comprised a substantial part of PCC agenda with a consideration of finance and expenditure at every general meeting.  This has been greatly facilitated by the comprehensive reports provided by the Treasurer.  The PCC deeply regrets to report that we have been unable to pay the full amount of Parish Share due for the year 2004.  The PCC is also mindful that our financial situation must be at least ameliorated in the short term, and improved significantly in the medium to long term, if St Matthews is to be a viable long-term project for the Diocese.  To this end, the PCC have devoted considerable effort to rebranding existing fund-raising events, such as the Autumn Fare, and also seeking to establish St Matthews as a venue for concerts.  Whilst it must be remembered that these projects are at a very early stage of development, the initial results are positive.  

 

Building

 

The maintenance of the church building has been high on the list of priorities, with Aidan Evans, Dick Foster and Jimmy Sharman providing regular reports.  Internally, the roof in the sacristy has been repaired; externally, significant remedial works are planned for the tower and an appropriate notice is displayed on the board outside church.  The PCC are also mindful that the Church has not been particularly warm of late and investigations are on-going into the root cause of the problems.

 

Hall Development

 

The PCC are pleased to report that a licence agreement has been drafted in respect of Newcastle Toy Cafe’s use of the hall.  The draft has been submitted to NTC’s solicitors and we are awaiting any amendments that they might with to proffer.    

 

St Philips

 

The PCC is pleased to report that there have been regular joint meetings with St Phillips throughout 2004.


 

Deanery Synod Report

 

Richard Deadman

 

 

Meetings of the Deanery Synod generally open with a presentation by the host parish of life as they see it.  These tend to be varied in style and content.

 

The year was dominated by the proposed reorganisation of the Deanery.  There have been lots of meetings, several reports and much discussion; but we are no further forward than we were last year and still behind the point represented by our own submission.

 

The appointments of Fr Stephen Griffith at Holy Spirit, Denton, Dr Chris Knights at Scotswood, and the Revd Catherine Packer at the Ven Bede mean that there are no vacant livings in the Deanery and there are unlikely to be any for a few years.

 

The collection of quota across the Deanery has been generally encouraging, though a little slower than desirable early in the year.  Neil Brockbank continues to handle this situation with a sure, but light touch that generates effort.

 

Bishop Paul attended one meeting to speak on the phenomenon of New Age religion.  It was a full and informed talk, but perhaps a little demanding for that time in the evening.

 

We have also raised the question of the new provisions for the conducting of weddings; a consultation is currently in progress and the PCCs’ response can be viewed on request.

 

Deanery Evensong occurred at Holy Cross, Fenham.  It was well attended (the church was full) and it has been agreed to continue the practice.  It was also agreed that the form of service should be that customary in the host church.

 

Proposals for a youth church proved to involve a much heavier input of resources than had been foreseen (by some!) and whilst the discussion continues under the leadership of Fr John Sinclair more modest provision for work with the young is likely.

 

The appointment of a halftime priest at Scotswood whose other responsibility is to work with “Going for Growth” provoked some complaint, since there had been no agreement on this at Deanery level.  With “Going for Growth” now gone, we have yet to discover how, exactly he will fill his time.
 

Social Committee Report

 

Margaret Evans

 

The Social Committee have planned and coordinated a wide range of social events this year.

 

Arrangements for the advertising, stalls and refreshments at the Fayre were all successful. Other events include catering  for  the  Confirmation,  Strawberry Tea,  concerts,  parties and a lunch for Father Elliott’s final visit to the parish as Archdeacon.

 

Numbers of people   attending   the events have varied greatly and this is always a cause for concern when trying to assess food and drink requirements. In a departure from the usual refreshments, up to two hundred people attended the Russian Concert and enjoyed vodka and caviar at the interval.

 

Many thanks to all from both congregations, who have willingly contributed their time, talents and culinary skills to ensure the success of  each occasion.

 

Music Report

 

Aidan Evans

During the year the choir increased its repertoire of liturgical psalms used at High Masses. As there are three years worth of these this will be a long process which will continue for the foreseeable future.

 

In the Summer we had our usual visit to Brinkburn for Evensong followed by a picnic, and we were again blessed with fine weather as well as excellent company.

 

S. Matthewstide proved to be a great success and we enjoyed being joined by some members of the choir of S Paul’s, Whitley Bay, as well as other friends. In addition, some members of   Matthew’s choir sang at the Patronal Festival at S. Paul’s.

 

The strength of the choir is now at eight, with the welcome addition of Natalie who is quickly finding her place in the life of the choir and church. It was good also to see Paul on vacation from his University course in Bradford. We look forward to his permanent return.

 

The organ continues to give good service as one would expect from a craftsman-made instrument constructed from pipes and timber, rather than plastic and electronic circuitry. Tunings this year have been reduced to two in order to precipitate some financial savings. Liturgically, more music from French Organ Masses by Couperin, Bovin, de Grigny, Marchand and Clerambault has been included in services.

 

There can be but few places of worship where the Liturgical use of such compositions is not only tolerated but actively encouraged, and for this the organist remains extremely grateful.

 

CHAT Shop Report 2005

 

Richard Deadman

 

The Trustees spent an afternoon followed by a complete day contemplating the situation of the organisation at which a number of issues were raised.  Underpinning the whole future debate will be the question of whether there is a future for the CHAT Shop.  It is hard to believe that there is no work that we can very usefully be doing in Arthur’s Hill and its surrounding area. 

 

Dynamic Partnership of Four Denominations

 

Owing to our familiarity with one another in this setting and the generally genial nature of our dealings we can overlook the fact that the CHAT Shop is a coalition of four denominations.  It is, if not remarkable, then at least notable, that this venture has long survived its initiators.  Our continuing working together should be a cause for celebration.  However, there is a question as to whether we make the most of this forum.  We need to guard against becoming a quasi fifth denomination, founded on the lowest common denominators of the constituent four. 

 

The significant weakening of the connexion between the CHAT Shop and the other members of the constituent churches over the past few years is a trend that needs to be reversed.  The CHAT Shop could be a powerful sign of ecumenical Christian activity in Arthur’s Hill; but it needs to enjoy the active support and involvement of the four denominations.

 

At the end of the day, we cannot force people to take an interest; but we can take steps to encourage them.

 

First and foremost, we must ensure, so far as we are able, that it is a worthwhile organisation

 

Secondly, we need them to feel that they have a real part to play

 

Thirdly, we must work to raise the profile of our work within the congregations.

 

Fourthly, we must improve and maintain two-way communication.

 

Loss of Christian Identity

 

There was a strong feeling that the organisation had, at least to some extent, lost its sense of being a Christian organisation.  The reasons for this might be, amongst others a mutual sensitivity which sees us very often we seem to confine our discussions to the level of practical management rather than theological issues that might lie behind them.

 

It is also true, however, that we have let ourselves be propelled down this route by the pressures of funding requirements.  We should, perhaps, develop a greater confidence in sticking to our guns in what we expect of ourselves and others both within the organisation and also in the basis on which we conduct our dealings with other organisations.

 

Obviously, a clear statement of Christian identity and ethos to supplement the Constitution will be an important element in our development.  Such a document will have to admit of being applied to the reality of our situation and recognize the complexity of the context in which we work.

 

We should remember that the culture and ethos of our organisation can be a powerful communication of the Gospel.  How such a policy is presented will also be a key decision as will its implementation.  Again, if we are not careful we might disqualify ourselves from grants if our requirements of staff can be perceived to be overtly Christian in tone or content.  This, of course, may be a price we have to pay, but we should be aware of possible consequences as we formulate, present and implement measures to strengthen our Christian identity.

 

This identity must also govern the choices and decisions that we make.  It is also important to remember that different denominations might have varying perspectives on some matters and it would clearly it would be a breach of our fellowship to force through an opinion or decision that compromised the principles of one or other of the partner churches.

 

Diminishment of Congregational Participation

 

The decrease of interest in the project amongst most members of our congregations is evident.  If we are going to recover their support, we shall need to present them with something of which they can see the point and value.  We shall, I believe, need to give them a clear opportunity to voice their opinions and influence the direction of the Trust. 

 

Need for Reform of Governance

 

In all of this, for all the sterling work of the Trustees, I think it is becoming clear that the present infrastructure of the CHAT Shop is creaking.  In a world of partnership, the discrete nature of our Trust jars a little.  Secondly, we may, from time to time, need to be able to recruit particular expertise not available to us in the congregations.  Thirdly, there are a number of technical matters, such as the length of service, that may merit revision.

 

We have also found that the Constitution is defective in a number of ways both in detail and character.  It is more-or-less the standard text that was trotted out every time a church group wished to set up an organisation that was independent of the congregational entity.  As such, its generalist feel needs to be refined. A mature organisation that has been running for twelve years or more will have moved on from the new venture encapsulated in our present document.

 

The instruments of governance, above all the Constitution, can be seen as the straightjacket that hems in an organisation; and to some extent, it is the agreed set of rules and assumptions of an organisation.  Equally, it is a statement and description of who we are and what we are about.  In a fast moving society, it is surely not surprising that our structures and practices need to adapt to the changing circumstances.  If the governance is to serve the work effectively and efficiently, we need to assess whether we have the best arrangements.

 

I think it is right to say that the partnership between the four denominations is sufficiently established to have developed an identity, which can more precisely be reflected than the present provision.  We can also use the revision process as an instrument to address some of the other issues that lie before us.

 

Measuring Success

 

In some ways, this was the weakest part of the afternoon, since we never really got to grips with this issue.  However, it will be imperative that we devise ways to assess our effectiveness.  Unlike secular organisations, this cannot just be a matter of measuring our activity against outputs, since we must also consider whether we are achieving much as a Christian organisation.  We cannot reject the performance indicators, since they will be necessary to retain the confidence of funders; but in our accountability to the congregations, we shall need to provide a different perspective.

 

Need for Publicity and Marketing

 

We are clearly poor at raising our profile.  Whilst people within our congregations and through the community are aware of our presence, they are much less aware of what we are really about.  In many ways, owing to Carol’s energy, as an organisation we network quite well, though more through the officers than the trustees.  We need, however, to build on those contacts to promote ourselves – both in terms of background information and with regard to specific projects and events.  We must reflect on how we can establish ourselves as a more overtly Christian presence in the community.

 

Develop New Projects

 

It was agreed at a Trust meeting a while ago that we would work through projects.  Projects provide an opportunity to create a framework and momentum in which we can seek to achieve our purpose of incarnating the Gospel in the context of Arthur’s Hill. There is much money sloshing around to fund these, but in this lurk dangers: secular money pots are wary of Faith elements in the enterprises they support and we shall clearly need to have a clear distinction in our minds as to the two levels on which our work operates.

 

One of the key decisions that we shall have to make over the next few months concerns which project or projects we intend to pioneer for the next few years.  Ideally, we would not need to turn to large agencies for funding, since we would then be freer to set our course, but there is no medium term prospect of such an opportunity.  It will, therefore, be important to have a clear idea of what we are setting out to achieve before we seek funding so that we cannot be lured too far from our own purposes by the promise of cash.

 

The Toy Café and Yours and Mine were natural developments; but we do not have any further activities with which we can pursue a similar programme.

 

As a matter of some urgency, therefore, we need to turn our minds to this matter, since our Mission Statement, recently agreed, states that we will work through projects and the present ones will soon be independent.

 

In coming to a decision, we may well choose to take into account all sorts of bits of information that are available to us: our Christian witness, demographic statistics, experience from the present work, the Rowntree Report &c.  Almost as important as the final decision – though one is supremely vital in this matter – is the set of criteria that we lay down to guide our choice. 

 

Inter alia, we shall need to consider how we will relate to the Toy Café and Yours and Mine after disaggregation – will they just become two more organisations in our social circle or will we be seeking to create some sort of Commonwealth.  We might also consider whether we should seek some form of federation with similar organisations (The Hub, Cornerstone, UMTP &c) as a source of mutual support.

 

Part time CEO

 

A confluence of factors, including her own wishes, has seen Carol move to part time work from the beginning of this year. 

 

These factors include:

¨      there is not funding for a fulltime post at this time

¨      the projects are moving towards independence, each with their own project manager

¨      there is a lull in the core activity of the Trust

¨      the work that Carol has done over four years has built up some capital, which we can spend for a while

 
 

We need to recognize that prior to this year Carol has worked very hard, which has moved the organisation forward considerably.  The next stage of development will require a comparable input from the CEO and we need to recognize that a part time CEO can only be a temporary state of affairs.  Given the nature of the organisation, we need a fulltime officer holding the activity together day by day.

 

It will be important that by that time, we have a firm idea of the work, which we hope that that person will undertake, both so that we have a clear picture of the appropriate person and also so that we attract the right applicants.  For this to be achieved, the activities of today must have borne sufficient fruit within the next few months.  Whatever the outcome of our reflexion, in a small organisation such as this, the CEO will clearly need to have a wide range of skills.

 

Yours and Mine

 

This project was intended to create from the kernel of catering provision that was offered in the CHAT Shop a few years ago a self-sustaining social enterprise.  Progress has not been as quick as the original plans suggested, but the group is close to becoming a formal entity.  However, we have yet to develop a sustainable operation at the Café and it is highly likely that there will need to be some radical developments to achieve this, including an increase in space available for business.

 

We have learnt a number of lessons from this venture, which will inform any future work.

 

Toy Café

 

This project has moved ahead rather more efficiently than Yours and Mine.  Partly, I think, this is owing to the fact that from the outset a dedicated member of staff with very specific expertise was overseeing the day to day operation.  The only slight snag is the development of the management committee, but this is in hand and this child, at least, should be leaving home this year

 

The work, as we know, has moved its centre to Saint Matthew’s Hall, but the activities are spread across the community.

 

 

Reputation

 

As with many voluntary and community sector organisations, one of our principal assets is our good name.  A number of things contribute to this:

¨      the fact that we have been in existence for over ten years

¨      our generally judicious stewardship of the organisation

¨      the backing of four solid and respectable organisations

¨      the effective work of Carol in her time here as well as some of the trustees

 

We need to preserve this reputation, which is partly why the debacle over the accounts is worrying.

 

We should be aware also that one of our strengths, the backing of the four churches, can also in some fora be an obstacle.

 

It will be important to protect our independence, in spite of our reliance on funding.  A clear strategy, shot through with our Christian identity and ethos will help us achieve this.  Amongst other things, we need to guard against being caught up in the short-term culture that looks for early high profile return on investment with little care about what comes afterwards.

 

Small Group of Volunteers

 

Concern was articulated at the awayafternoon about the shrinking cohort of volunteers.  On a positive note, we still have some!

 

The supply has, however, rather dried up, both from the churches and from outside.  This is causing strain on staffing the Café day to day and is partly why it is necessary to employ two workers in stead of one, thus greatly increasing costs.

 

The problem is exacerbated by the fact that the expansion of the business and new Health and Safety legislation require volunteers to be trained rather than just picking up a tea cloth and starting work.  We might also need to consider whether there is routinely sufficient to keep people occupied and so feel a sense of the worth of what they do.

However, we need also to be aware that both legislative concerns and a range of social factors will require us to do much more than hang out a situations vacant sign.  None-the-less, the stronger our volunteer base from the churches, the less we shall be at the mercy of being forced to bring in others from outside who may not share our visions and ideals as we continue the work.  Ideally, the volunteer base would have a character intrinsically sympathetic to the Christian culture that we are seeking to maintain.

 

Allied to these questions is the matter of a pool of well-wishers.  To be vulgar, they could be a source of income that would provide at least some funds that were not fettered by conditions imposed from without the organisation.  Equally importantly, they could be heralds of our work and increase the circulation of knowledge of our activities.

 

Documents that, between them, give a good picture of the present and future of the CHAT Shop, copies of which can be acquired from the Vicar:

 

¨      Awayday Commentary

¨      Awayafternoon report

¨      Constitution (!!)

¨      New Mission Statement

¨      Christian Ethos Document

¨      Demographic Survey

¨      Present State of Play

¨      Rowntree Report on Poverty

¨      Faithworks Charter

 

 

Mothers’ Union

 

Vinnie Campbell

 

Our meetings take place on the first Wednesday of the month at 2pm in church with Fr Richard generally leading the Office.  We have eleven members with an average attendance of eight.

 

Throughout the year we have continued with joint meetings with S Philip’s and a decision was taken to amalgamate S Philip’s and S Matthew’s branches of the Mothers’ Union.  Arrangements for this event will be announced.

 

Our Summer outing to Hexham was a great success with a guided tour of the Abbey, tea and then said Evensong.

 

During the year we had a variety of speakers and also took part in all deanery events.  We ended the year on a joyous not with a Christmas dinner, which everyone enjoyed.

 

Home page: http://stmatthewsnewcastle.org.uk/