Little Malvern Priory
(Church of England)

 

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LITTLE MALVERN PRIORY

CHURCH OF ST GILES

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

ANNUAL REPORT 2009

1       Administrative information…………………………   3

2       Structure, governance and management……………  5

3       Objectives and Activities………………………….….. 5

4       Achievements and Performance…………………...… 5

               4.1       Church Attendance…………………………………………………  5

            4.2       Review of the year………………………………………………    .. 5

            4.3       Cost of Management…………………………………………………5

 

5       Review of our Aims and Objectives………………….. 5

                5.1        To minister to society………………………………………………..5

            5.2        To grow together…………………………………………………….6

            5.3       To deepen the understanding of our faith……………………............7

 

6       Maintenance…………………………………………….7

7       General………………………………………………….7

1           Administrative information

Little Malvern Priory (St. Giles) is situated in Little Malvern. It is part of the Diocese of Worcester within the Church of England. The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a charity excepted from registration with the Charity Commission.

PCC members who served from 1st January until 31 December 2009 are:

Priest in Charge and Chairman                         The Revd Canon Eric Knowles

                                                                            45 Wykewane

                                                                            Malvern WR14 2XD

Representatives on the Deanery Synod              Mr George Bryden (until October 2009)

                                                                            Mrs Irene Tretheway

                                                                            Mr Ramon Wyre (from October 2009)

                                                                            

Churchwarden                                                    Lt-Col Robert Steel

                                                                            Vine Tree Cottage

                                                                            Upper Welland Road

                                                                            Malvern WR14 4LD

                                                                           

Churchwarden                                                    Miss Jocelyn Bailey  (until April 2009)

                                                                            102 West Malvern Road

                                                                            Malvern WR14 4NB 

 Churchwarden                                                   Mr John Chatten (from April 2009)

                                                                           17 Tennyson Drive

                                                                           Malvern WR14 2TQ

                                                                           

 Treasurer                                                           Mr Bernard Pierce

                                                                            

Secretary                                                            Mr. Derek Webb

                                                                           

Other elected members          

                                                                           Mrs Wendy Booth (until April 2009)

                                                                      

                                                                           Mrs. Sue Johnson (until April 2009)

                                                              

                                                                           Sir Nigel Nicholls (until April 2009)

                                                                     

                                                                           Lt-Col Alistair Booth (from April 2009)

                                                                       

                                                                           Mr Michael Pollard (from April 2009)

                                                                           

                                                                           Mrs Alexandra Berington (Lay Patron)

Ex officio                                                      

                                                                           Sir Nigel Nicholls (from April 2009)

                                                                           (Chairman of the Finance Committee)

                                                                           

2        Structure, governance and management

The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All Church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and to stand for election to the PCC.

                                                                                               

3        Objectives and Activities

 

Little Malvern Priory PCC is responsible for:

a.       supporting the Chaplain, the Revd Canon Eric Knowles, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.

b.      the maintenance of the Church of St. Giles (Little Malvern Priory) of Little Malvern.

4        Achievements and Performance

4.1   Church attendance

There are 106 members on the Church Electoral Roll, 100 of whom are not resident within the parish. Four names were added during the year and six were removed. The average weekly attendance was 50.

4.2   Review of the year

The full PCC met four times during the year; the average attendance was 75%. The Finance Committee met between meetings and their deliberations were reported to the full PCC.

4.3   Cost of Management

The cost of management has been kept to a minimum by using e-mails to distribute agendas and minutes. The PCC generally meets in a local hall at a cost of £8 per meeting. No other costs have been incurred.

 

5          Review of Aims and Objectives

 

5.1 To minister to Society

 

5.1.1    Two of our members continue to be very actively involved with the Farm Crisis network.

 

5.1.2    One of our members takes an active part in the work of the Lyttelton Well. (This provides a drop-in centre and Christian bookstall in the centre of Great Malvern).

5.1.3    We have been supporting the work of the Chaplaincy at Long Lartin high security prison and the mission church of St Mary’s Sherrard’s Green.  St Mary’s is set in the centre of one of the most deprived areas in Malvern.

5.1.4    Our Christmas social raised money for the Malvern Foyer (provides shelter for homeless young adults in Malvern).

 

5.1.5    We continue with the policy of keeping the church open during the daytime to allow members of the public to have access for prayer & meditation.

 

5.1.6    Our website provides access to all our activities (including all the items in our Pewsletter) for all those who use the Internet.

 

5.1.7    Mrs Berington kindly allowed us to use the gardens of Little Malvern Court for an Open Day in May.  We were able to welcome more than 300 visitors to the gardens and the church.

 

5.1.8    One of our members held a series of charity lunches in aid of a Romanian Orphanage.

 

5.1.9    The Church hosted a visit from the Vintage Sports Car Club.  It was in Malvern celebrating its 75th Anniversary.

 

5.1.10  The church encourages and supports the Chaplain in his work as Wing Chaplain for the West Mercian Wing of the Air Training Corps.

 

5.1.11  We were granted a Merit Award as a result of

our entry in Heart of England in Bloom.  The judge’s comment was:

“The dedicated efforts of the volunteers have yielded bountiful dividends in conserving and enhancing the natural flora and fauna, lovingly caring for ‘God’s Acre’ in a delightful tranquil place.”

 

5.1.12  Some of our members are involved in supporting the work of St Michael’s Hospice.  Another member has become a recognised Chalice Assistant at St Richard’s Hospice and some of our members are involved in supporting the league of Friends of Malvern Community Hospital.

 

5.2 To grow together

 

5.2.1    The Chaplain and his wife provided Open House for members of the congregation on New Year’s Day.

 

5.2.2    In the Spring and Autumn we held Working Parties at the church for churchyard maintenance and church cleaning.  The Spring one was followed by a Pub lunch and the Autumn one was followed by a picnic in the churchyard.  These provide excellent occasions for us to get to know each other better.

 

5.2.3    A group of us went to Tewkesbury Abbey for Solemn Evensong.  This was followed by sharing an evening meal together in a pub.

 

5.2.4    Our Harvest Thanksgiving Service was followed by a Harvest lunch.  This was held in Little Malvern Court by kind invitation of Mrs Alex Berington.

 

5.2.5    We held Choral Evensongs in May and June and a plain Evensong in July.  We do not have an evening service at any other time but this gives us an opportunity to meet for worship in an evening in the summer.

 

5.2.6    We continued to hold midweek morning prayer sessions once a month but these ceased during the course of the year.

 

5.3  To deepen the understanding of our faith

 

We held 5 Lenten sessions led by Dr John Ziesler on the theme of a book he had written called “The Jesus Question”.  During Advent we had two study sessions led by Canon Peter Davies.  We explored the topic of God incarnate in Money.

 

6          Maintenance 

 

No major maintenance was necessary. A few tiles had to be replaced after they were dislodged by the autumn gales.

 

7          General

 

The stained glass lights in memory of Marian Tosello, and donated by her, were installed in the North window in March 2009. They comprise three roundels, depicting, respectively, Little Malvern Priory as it might have looked in the Middle Ages, William Langland  and Piers Plowman, together with a pane recording Mme Tosello’s life. (Afternote: they were dedicated by the Bishop of Worcester in March 2010.)

 

Members of the congregation continued to give loyal support to the running of the church,  in various capacities. This is greatly appreciated.

 

 

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