Report from St James Church Bishampton

Report from the churchwardens of St. James, Bishampton for the year ending April 2005.

The most notable event of this year has been the retirement of Rev. David Hassell in October 2004. As a PCC we have coped well and have been able to maintain a little altered service pattern. In order to be able to do this we have had to pay retired clergy to take services. Certain lay members have taken family services meaning that we have maintained one family service and one family communion per month aimed specifically at children. On the whole levels of attendance are less than they were this time last year, although certain services, such as Christmas morning have remained as popular as ever. Of course the church is in as much demand as ever for weddings, baptisms and funerals. The existence of the church in Bishampton obviously remains to be a matter of importance to the wider community. The PCC are very much looking forward to the arrival of our new vicar, Anton Bennett in August. We are sure that under his guidance our mission to the community will be able to grow.

Over the last year we have carried out no major repair works. The tiles were blown off a section of the church roof in January 2005 but our insurance claim covered the cost of their replacement. In 2005 we will have the quinquennial report when we will be told what works will need to be done in the next five years to maintain such an old building. Over the past year we found that grass cutting of the graveyard could no longer be done on a voluntary basis. Consequently we have contracted the work out during the summer months. This of course is another financial drain and the grass-cutting period really needs to be extended. Any assistance that you could offer in helping to cover the cost would be gratefully received.

The fund raising team (a very committed few) have worked tremendously hard in holding some very well attended social events. However the appalling weather in June meant that the profits from our Summer Fair were almost halved. This has shown us that we cannot rely upon fundraising to cover our running costs. In the past appeals for restoration work have been very successful but the main drain upon our income remains to be covering the cost of the quota. The quota is a mandatory payment made to the Diocese and over the last three years has increased by an average 12% per year. We have made efforts to increase regular giving by those on the church electoral roll but may well have to consider extending this appeal to the wider community.

S.Weaver & C.R.Wood
Churchwardens St James Church Bishampton