The Lastingham Group of Chuches

REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2010

The reports presented to

the Annual Parochial Church Meeting

22 march 2011

Part 1: Looking back over the year

1. Electoral Roll & Easter Communicants

2. Parochial Church Councils

3. Worship, church attendance & Occasional Offices

4. Music & Choir

5. The Fan the Flame mission held in May 2010

6. Ecumenical activities

7. Work with children

8. Ministry to visitors and pilgrims

9. Finance: Overview and Financial Statements for 2010 (available separately)

10. Fabric & Churchyard

11. The Friends of Lastingham Church

12. Deanery Synod

Part 2: Looking ahead

1. General. 2. Music and Choir. 3. Children. Concluding thoughts.

PART 1: LOOKING BACK

1. ELECTORAL ROLL & EASTER COMMUNICANTS

Total population of ~1300	Electoral Roll	Easter Communicants
Total population of ~1300	2010	2008	2009	2010
Lastingham	66	24	30	25
Hutton	20	25	16	28
Appleton	37	31	35	21
Rosedale	54	18	34	19
Cropton	69	13	17	15
Total	246	111	132	108

2. PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCILS

There were 18 meetings of the PCCs. The highlights of the year’s discussion, and action to be taken, are given below (omitting matters of housekeeping, routine finance and maintenance).

There were no Combined PCC meetings last year.

1. Appleton PCC met three times.

It was agreed to investigate the possibility of a combined PCC in the Benefice.

The Vicar and PCC would like to thank all who have contributed to the church in any way over the past year, and especially: Terry Sunderland, who took over as acting treasurer, and now wishes to resign; Valerie Bulidon, for the many cards she makes, to sell and raise money for church funds; Lorraine Baxter, for repairing the Green altar frontal; and Chris Ingleby, for continuing to maintain the churchyard. – MI

2. Cropton PCC met four times

A recruitment programme for new Regular Givers was begun.
Internet giving was set up.
With Rosedale, the Fan the Flame mission was planned and carried out.
Options for the churchyard trees were reviewed.

3. Lastingham PCC met four times.

An administrative issue occupied a large amount of time and energy.

The PCC also tried to look at:

The general situation in the CofE: ‘Rarely have our difficulties appeared more complex; rarely has the life-giving message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ been more needed by the communities and people we serve.’ (The Bishop of Whitby)
Budgeting for a paid administrator in the future
Styles of welcoming people to church
The question of a mobile phone transmitter in the tower
The role of PCCs according to the PCC Powers Measure 1956

I would like to record my thanks to two non-members who have provided a large amount of help and support: Andrew Chappell and Alison Dodgson. – ASF

4. Rosedale PCC met seven times and discussed:

Religion and change in Britain: the speed of religious change; the state of the CofE, including a review of the current situations; factors in the sustainability of rural churches; ideas for Christian education and nurture.
Plans for the Fan the Flame mission.
Ideas for a stewardship campaign.

3. WORSHIP & CHURCH ATTENDANCE

Sunday attendance in the five villages is about 60 in winter (that’s 4.6% of the benefice population), while attendance in summer may be well over 100.

Nationally there is a decline in C of E church attendance figures. However, there is evidence that churches who retain a traditional form and style of worship are growing. At the Lastingham Sung Eucharist on the first Sunday of the month there is a traditional style and content, and the Register of Services shows a significant increase in attendance over the past nine years. Here are two comments from our visitors:

I wanted to say how greatly encouraged I was by being able to attend the service in Hutton-le-Hole on Sunday, and how lovely it was to hear the choir, and in a full church, and really feel that the Spirit was there, and be in Christ’s presence; and also how greatly encouraged I was by [the] sermon, and how we really ought to be thinking about beauty rather than social justice and things like that. A really inspiring service, and it’s giving me strength to carry on. When the Church of England really seems so hopeless, it’s good that a few beacons are still firing their light, to keep us going. So thank you very much for all your amazing work. (A Benefice 10.30 Eucharist at Hutton).

If church were like this where we live, we’d be there every week (a Benefice 10.30 Eucharist at Rosedale) .

The much simpler BCP-based Holy Communion continues to attract a loyal and warm-hearted congregation, and has even exceeded 12 on winter mornings.

Evensong attendances at Appleton and Cropton have been very good indeed by today’s standards.

The weekday Eucharist in Lastingham and Rosedale continue, as do weekday Offices in each church in rotation. The weekday attendance, at around 40 per month, is very commendable. Weekday attendance is considered a good barometer of spiritual health in a parish.

I would like to thank all those who have played the organ: Fred Dennis, Denise Ferguson, Nick Finlayson-Brown, Ruth Hannah, Richard Haynes, Maddy Hudson, Ruth Turner. Thanks to all those others who help to run these services, in the villages of Appleton, Cropton, Hutton, Lastingham and Rosedale – as sacristans, sidesmen, lectors, flower arrangers and cleaners .

Numbers of Occasional Offices from 2007 to 2010 were as follows:

	2007	2008	2009	2010
Baptisms	7	6	10	3
Confirmations	3	0	0	4
Marriages & Blessings of Civil Marriages	7	7	7	5
Funerals	6	8	8	7
Blessing of a House				2

Attention is drawn to the availability of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, sacramental healing (such as by prayer and the Laying on of Hands and the use of Holy Oil), and the Blessing of Houses. On the first Sundays of February, May, August and November, anointing is available at the 10.30 Eucharist at Lastingham.

4. MUSIC & CHOIR

The Choir

Please see under the Looking Ahead section below.

The Concerts

Concerts at Lastingham remain popular, and in the past year there have been seven: two concerts and a workshop run by the Ryedale Festival, three by the North York Moors Chamber Music Festival, and one by the York Chapter House Choir.

Lastingham Organ Project

There has been a delay in the building of the replacement organ due to our organ builder’s high volume of work. It is now well in hand however and to date approximately half of the work has been completed. Our thanks continue to go to Jozef Mycielski, Head of Fundraising at Ampleforth, for his oversight and guidance throughout the Appeal.

5. FAN THE FLAME MISSION

This was held from 16 – 20 May 2010, and there was a follow-up workshop on Sunday 18 July, the report of which is available separately .

Organizing FTF took many weeks of planning meetings and hard work. It was the first time that any of us had taken on such a big responsibility, and we were apprehensive of the response it would get. So a big thank you to everyone who came along, with open minds, to the evenings – even if they had, at first, said that it was not their cup of tea! I don’t know what all of you thought, but personally I found it spiritually enlightening and uplifting. Yes, it was very different from anything I had experienced before, but it did leave me wanting more – and I am sorry that it was all over so quickly.

When it came to the follow-up, we decided it would be a good idea to have a phone- round and remind everyone about it and its importance. It was to be a time of reflection, of planning, and of looking ahead to the future of the church in our villages. After the good attendance at the Teaching Evenings, and all the favourable comments we received afterwards, we were disappointed with the negative response from many of the people we contacted. There were of course those who had already told us they couldn’t come because of holidays and the like. However, on the day some villages who had taken part in the Week were hardly represented. We were disappointed that those who are quick to find fault with our churches, services and activities did not take this opportunity to come and make their comments public. Perhaps their suggestions could have been incorporated into our church life. Next time you hear negative comments, ask that person if they came to the FTF Follow-up Sunday to present their case. If they didn’t, one would wonder whether we need to take their criticism seriously.

There were, however, some very useful thoughts and suggestions from those who were there. There was some praise for what is being done already in some of our churches. There were also a number of good ideas from individuals about what we might do in the future. David Green, the FTF representative, who came up from London to preach to us and to lead the Follow-up session, summarised our thoughts and ideas. These are available separately.

On behalf of the Fan the Flame co-ordinating team I would like to thank everyone who helped during the week. It was so good to work together with people from all the villages. Our two leaders, Fr Alan Cole and Fr Timothy Rawden-Mogg, both said that the hospitality was second to none. Finally, thank you to the Vicar for having the confidence in us to run this mission, for his expertise in the sound and lighting department, and for his furniture removing and car packing skills! – SKG, Leader of the Fan the Fame Coordinating Team

6. ECUMENICAL ACTIVITIES

“The Church of England is part of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church worshipping the one true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It professes the faith uniquely revealed in the Holy Scriptures and set forth in the catholic creeds, which faith the Church is called upon to proclaim afresh in each generation.” (From the Church of England's Declaration of Assent, Canon C5). It is often pointed out that it is the energy that is put in at a local level that will best help the church to come together.

Here are some things that are happening in our group of churches.

On occasions, Lastingham Benefice Choir has been joining the choirs of the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady & St Chad, Kirkbymoorside. Near St Chad’s Day Lastingham has hosted a service of Vespers. Twice a year they have sung for an Orthodox Liturgy celebrated at Ampleforth. On each occasion the choirs have been conducted by Fr Alexander of Ampleforth.
For the past few years the Greek Orthodox Church of Saints Columba and Kentigern, Doncaster, has celebrated the Orthodox Liturgy at Lastingham.
For many years there has been an ecumenical Lent Study Group in the village of Lastingham. This is under the auspices of Ryedale Christian Council.
At Hartoft, in the parish of Rosedale, an Anglican Eucharist is held each month in the Methodist Chapel (or in a private house in colder weather).
Groups from Ampleforth Abbey celebrate Mass in Lastingham Crypt.
In Holy Week 2011 an Anglican-RC pilgrimage walk from Ana Cross to Lastingham is to be held.

7. WORK WITH CHILDREN

There is currently no Sunday School. Children are always welcome to be involved in the Liturgy – as servers, in processions, ringing bells, reading. The Vicar has continued to take some assemblies at Rosedale School, at which the children are given a grounding in the Liturgy and the Bible. The children’s tables at Lastingham and Rosedale, with attractive books and colouring facilities, continue to prove popular. See also under the Looking Ahead section, below.

8. MINISTRY TO VISITORS & PILGRIMS

We continue to be proud that our five churches are kept open every day, 365 days a year. They receive a large number of visitors. We know that many of them say a prayer or light a candle. Some attend a service. Quiet Days have taken place at Lastingham. A paper by the Vicar on the Church’s Ministry to Visitors and Pilgrims is available on our website.

9. FINANCE

The PCCs’ Financial Statements are available separately and will be presented by each respective PCC treasurer.

Overview

It should be noted that the Parish Share has continued to rise. This is because it is no longer possible to pay the clergy from the C of E’s central funds. Appleton, Cropton and Rosedale PCCs have informed the Diocese that they are unable to pay the full amount asked for, and these is currently a significant shortfall. The Deanery Finance Committee has however been working on a fairer way of dividing out the Share within the Deanery.

The number of Regular Givers and the total amount given has not changed much over the past few years. I believe this is going to improve during 2011.

It is the responsibility of PCCs to ensure an adequate income.

All members of Electoral Roll are urged to pay their subscription to the club!

Overview of the Benefice finances for the past five years

*All churches*	2006		2007			2008		2009				2010
Total income (unrestricted)	74,380			91,490		72,390			75,820		64,990
of which
Tax-efficient Regular Giving	13,400	18%		16,620	18%	14,950	21%		14,460	19%	11,058		17%
Regular Givers (households)	~ 50+			~ 50+		55			52		51
Total expenditure (unrestricted)	71,740			79,250		74,340			75,940		75,186
of which
Parish Share asked for	35,880	50%		38,220	48%	39,930*	54%		44,470	60%	44,672		60%
Parish Share paid	*			*		*			35,420	79%	33,617		75%
Parish Share shortfall									9,050		11,055
Surplus/(Deficit)	2,640			12,240		(1,950)			(11,055)		(10,196)
* In these years, too, not all of the Parish Share could be paid.

Thanks to all who have done the bookkeeping and compiled the Accounts over the past year, or helped with them in any way: Gerald Blakey, Mary Carlisle, Alison Dodgson, Sara Goodswen, June Scarth and Terry Sunderland. Mention must also be made of those who count the collections, empty the wall boxes and bank the money. Thank you also to our Independent Examiners: David Anderson for Lastingham and Appleton, Nigel Roberts for Hutton, Alison Dodgson for Rosedale and Nicola Hutchinson for Cropton.

A note on Signpost magazine Signpost covers both church and community. Six issues were published in 2010, with 480 copies in summer and 460 in winter, of which about 50 are distributed to hotels, holiday cottages and campsites, and another 25 sold in the churches. Over 20 are sent by post. This year’s Accounts again show a deficit. Although the purpose is to reach out into the community, we do need to cover our costs, so all of you are urged to pay a minimum of £5 per year. Thank you to all who contribute, by writing, dealing with the advertising, editing, folding, delivering and collecting the subscriptions.

10. FABRIC & CHURCHYARD

Fabric Reports

St Mary Lastingham A specification is being drawn up for a relighting and rewiring of the entire church. The building of the Conacher organ is underway. The Quinquennial Inspection is due this year. Special thanks to John Hardy for all his hard work, and in the churchyard as well. – SKG

St Chad's, Hutton-le-Hole The building has been maintained in good condition with the help of many volunteers during the year. On the organ, repairs are needed to the tubulo-pneumatic soundboard for the 18 bass pipes. – ASF

Christ Church, Appleton-le-Moors The new lighting system praised by many people and is clearly much appreciated. The repairs recommended in the last Quinquennial Inspection have still to be carried out. It is planned to give the church a clean during the next month or so, when two more lights will be installed in the chancel, and some extra lighting in the Lady Chapel to give extra lighting to the Prayer Board, Memorial Book and murals. – MI

St Mary and St Laurence, Rosedale Abbey The re-ordering to the narthex has been almost completed, with the rebuilding of the panelling. The sacristy has been refurbished, including replacement of one window and the provision of a fine new worktop. Work on the roof plates, the ceiling and the repainting has not yet been put in hand. The overall atmosphere of the building would be greatly improved if the proposed upgrade to the lighting could carried out. – SKG

St Gregory’s, Cropton Dampness, due probably to poor ventilation, needs attention. The building has otherwise been kept in good condition.

Churchyard Reports

St Mary Lastingham With the tree felling and new planting, re-partitioning of certain areas, involving some re-fencing, and a new mowing regime, the churchyard has had an impressive face lift over the past few years. Thanks to John Hardy and members of the Churchyard Working Party. A detailed report recommending a long-term management plan is available. We continue to be guided by the Living Churchyard Project. Work on the new grave area has begun. – ASF

St Chad’s, Hutton-le-Hole The churchyard has been maintained in good condition throughout the year with the help of volunteers and a contractor.

Christ Church, Appleton-le-Moors The churchyard has been maintained in fairly good condition. Trees on the South and East boundaries need attention. There are plans to demarcate certain routes, in particular a route on which burials will not take place. Thanks to Chris Ingleby for continuing to maintain the churchyard.

St Mary and St Laurence Church, Rosedale Abbey New trees are soon to be planted. We are still attempting to obtain land for a churchyard extension. In the meantime an area to the northeast of the existing churchyard has been cleared for burials. The grass cutting regime has been followed better during 2010. We are continuing to follow the guidelines of the Living Churchyard Project.

St Gregory’s Cropton There is tree work to be done. It is felt that some at least of the large cypresses could be felled (consultation with the village is needed), and the yews by the gate need attention. There has been another visit from members of the Living Churchyard Project and their recommendations for more wild areas are to be carried out.

11. THE FRIENDS OF LASTINGHAM CHURCH

This year the final weekend in October became for the first time ‘The Lastingham Weekend’, and was centred around three linked groups of themes: Recent discoveries in the church, including traces of a pre-Christian sacred space, a Roman building on or close to the site of the church, parts of an Anglo-Saxon shrine, and a re-reading of the Crypt; On Spaunton Moor – evidence for processions, stational visions and monumental features above Lastingham; and Deiran politics – including the Roman ‘palace’ at Hovingham, and the concentration of 7^th-8^th-century religious houses on the borders of the Vale of Pickering. The Lastingham Lectures, and now this whole weekend, have wonderfully increased our knowledge and awareness of Lastingham’s past spiritual significance. It is hoped to publish the others in die course.

Through 2010 the Friends continued their fundraising in support of the maintenance of St Mary’s, and the PCC is most grateful to them for this. The new lighting scheme is to be considered a priority.

12. DEANERY SYNOD

The new Deanery of Northern Ryedale has been much concerned with Pastoral Reorganisation. This is in view of the increasing shortage of clergy and financial resources.
It is noted, for example, that the parish of Kirkbymoorside has been without a priest for more than 18 months.

In February, the Deanery Synod heard presentations for and against the Draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure. Discussion must focus on the nature of the alternative provision that would need to be made for those clergy and laity who, for ecumenical and other reasons, could not accept women bishops; and whether or not the current draft legislation gives adequate protection to this position. This draft legislation will go to the diocesan synods in the autumn and, following their vote, to General Synod early in 2012.

PART 2: LOOKING AHEAD

1. GENERAL

For a peaceful year in which the Vicar and PCCs can work together ‘in promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social, and ecumenical.’ [1]

Some of this is elaborated in the Fan the Flame report, which is available separately.

2. CHOIR

The Lastingham Benefice Choir, which has been in existence since 2003, aims: to extend its repertoire in all areas of the Liturgy (hymns and anthems, mass settings, wedding music, and the singing of Evensong); to continue to forge links with other local choirs and singers, and to recruit more singers; to undertake training from RSCM or other bodies; to maintain steady improvement in voice production, tonal quality, phrasing and musical sensitivity. – CH

3. WORK WITH CHILDREN

Simply to encourage children’s involvement in the services , e.g. the Palm Sunday procession, the Corpus Christi procession, serving, ringing bells. Continue to provide a table at the back of the church, with attractive books, colouring sheets and felt tips, and noticeboard space to display the work.

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

ALTHOUGH there are many seasons of dryness and darkness in the history of the Church, although Christian people have sometimes been on the verge of despair, yet when they least expected it fresh springs arose in the desert, and ‘through the scent of water it was able to bud, and it brought forth boughs like a plant.’

No church historian has yet given us a study of the way in which ‘renewal’ comes to the Church. Yet we do not need to be great scholars to know that again and again, when the life of the Church was at a very low ebb, some new element intervened, and changed the whole situation. From the purely human point of view these periods of renewal are inexplicable.

In every case, this ‘new life’ emerges from a praying group. In other words, the ‘living water’ comes from Christ himself, where two or three meet in his Name – and where, as in the first community in Jerusalem, they remain steadfastly together in faith and fellowship, in sacramental life and prayer. For ‘renewal’ always comes when we return to the source, to Jesus Christ himself.

But all through the course of the history of the Christian Church, this return to the source means going into ‘the desert’. It is there, in the solitude and silence, that the voice of God is heard; it is there that the river of prayer is born, that prayer which is the life-blood of the Church.

– Olive Wyon

1] See Synodical Government Measure 1969