MISSION ACTION PLAN

SAINT MARY THE VIRGIN
HAYES,
Middlesex

MISSION ACTION PLAN

A Living Tradition of Faith

2006 and beyond
Diocese of London (Fulham Jurisdiction)
Introduction

• The story so far
• Tradition
• Population
• Church School
• Buildings
• Method

The Story so far

There has been a Christian worshipping community on this site for over a thousand years. In many ways the Parish Church has been the focus of village life in Hayes down the ages.

In the last century the commercial centre of the village moved a mile south, leaving Old Hayes in a semi-rustic oasis amidst suburban sprawl.

As the population increased so four daughter churches were spawned, the last of which gained full parochial status in 2004.

Tradition

In tradition as well as location S Mary’s has withstood the chances and changes of recent times. The ethos is Catholic offering daily Mass, formal liturgy and traditional music with a robed choir. The atmosphere is relaxed and devout. The congregation is thoroughly and entirely mixed coming from all age groups, socio-economic backgrounds and ethnic origins. The Electoral Roll currently stands at about 290. The parish is currently under the pastoral care of the Bishop of Fulham under the London Plan.


Population

The demography of the area has been rapidly changing over recent years. Historically the largely white population has found employment in light industry. The expansion of Heathrow Airport and the influx of other cultural communities from Asia, the Caribbean, North Africa and the former Eastern European block, have both engendered considerable degrees of change in the area.

Church School

There has been a church school in the parish for over a century; the links remain very strong with many staff and children attending the church, and a number of the congregation serving on the Governing Body. There is a weekly Sunday School and several uniformed organisations linked to the parish. The links with the local community are many and diverse.

Buildings

The Church is a grade 2* listed building which is in reasonable repair although a constant drain on resources; the Parish Hall was built in 1911. Much of the congregation’s energy is spent in maintaining and restoring the church although recent bequests have somewhat eased the pressure. The Hall is widely used by both parochial and community groups, although its location (across a busy road from the church) and its increasing dilapidation (estimates for full repair including removal of asbestos, etc. stand at over £1m) are giving increasing cause for concern.

Method

The Church of England asked all churches to create action plans to focus vision and purpose.

S. Mary’s PCC met with Fr Neil Evans on June 7th 2006 to discuss the formulation of a Mission Action Plan for S Mary’s Hayes. Subsequent to that meeting the Standing Committee met on July 24th and brought to the PCC on August 1st a number of suggestions as to how best consult with the wider parish community.

On September 24th, our Harvest Festival, the congregation gathered at one Mass which was followed by a shared Harvest-tide lunch in the Church Hall.

The Rector, in place of a homily made a short presentation in which he invited the congregation to outline both the strengths and aspirations of the parish.

Small groups then formed for discussion, each facilitated by a member of the PCC. In conclusion the Rector summarised the findings of the groups and notes were taken of their discussions. The Standing Committee later met with the Hillingdon Deanery Mission and Ministry representatives.

S. Mary’s Mission Action Plan grew out of these consultations with the whole parish community.

Hopes and Dreams

• Short Term
• Mid Term
• Long Term

There emerged from the discussions a number of goals which either individuals or groups raised. Some were easily achievable, some a possibility, and some a distant aspiration.

Short Term Goals

• To enable the wider congregation to benefit from the opportunities to socialize and to work together. Parish pilgrimages and trips are well supported and fund-raising events efficiently managed but it is clear that activities should include more that the faithful nucleus. Events that are primarily fund-raising also play a vital social and pastoral role in parish life. The wider congregation should be encouraged to join in.

• To serve coffee after the Parish Mass at the back of church and so encourage more people to interact socially and build friendships and a feeling of community. Coffee after the Parish Mass has taken place monthly in the Church Hall. This now takes places weekly at the back of church in an area near the door. Coffee making machines have been purchased and about 40 people stay regularly after church, and numbers are increasing.

• To raise the profile of Church activities in the local community and within the worshipping community. This will be achieved by more external publicity; a website has been inaugurated and is in continual development, greater encouragement for more members of the congregation to contribute to the magazine the Parish Magazine, which enjoys a wide distribution.
• To fully develop the use of our web-site as a means to communicate with the wider community outside Hayes. We were only the second parish in the diocese to take advantage of their free web-site facility. All events are now advertised via this medium and up-dated weekly. We have received about 2500 hits, with feedback from the USA and Australia. There is also an on-line donation facility.

• To decorate the interior of the Church thus making the building more welcoming and boosting the morale of the worshipping community. The interior decoration of the church has for many years given cause for concern. A previous application of sealants and oil-based paints has caused considerable damage to the walls and stonework. The appearance of grey, peeling surfaces gives the wrongful impression of decay and neglect. Under the guidance of the Quinquennial Inspector a group of parishioners has begun to remove all the loose and flaking paint from the sanctuary are in preparation for re-decoration as the first phase of the refurbishment of the whole interior.

Mid-Term Goals

• To increase the involvement of S. Mary’s in the wider Church community. There is a distinct feeling among parishioners, that the parish through its tradition and Episcopal jurisdiction is isolated from the wider church in many ways. To address this situation members of the PCC have agreed to serve on synods at Deanery and Diocesan levels. It is also hoped that visiting clergy may be able to provide a broader perspective than the Rector is able.

• To hold a Stewardship Renewal Programme in 2007. The Stewardship adviser has agreed to support this.

• To improve the liturgical use of the building. The complete restoration of the building is dependant on raising funds additional to those required for the Common Fund. The positioning of the font and the choir seating are seen as being areas of potential improvement to the liturgical use of the building. A number of initiatives have been suggested of additional fund-raising and financial appeals to commercial and charitable bodies.

• To train the laity to undertake pastoral roles in the church and local community. The training of laity in the areas of youth work and pastoral visiting is an area that must be developed in order to allow the church to develop and continue to proclaim the Gospel of Christ and to continue to serve the people of Hayes. The possibilities of training with the Willesden and/or Fulham structures will be addressed and discussed.

Long Term Goals

• To develop the site of the current Church Hall. The Hall has always been one of our strongest links with the wider community and the parish is anxious that these linked should be maintained and developed. The future of the Church Hall needs careful consideration. In location, condition, and provision, the present building presents a number of problems. The Diocesan Property Department has already been involved in informal explorations of the future possibilities. It is hoped that with their co-operation a way will be found that will offer facilities more appropriate to the present and future needs of the congregation and the wider parish community. Meeting Rooms for various sized groups are much needed in the wider community. Ancillary provisions of office and rehearsal, robing space are also cited.

• To find ways and means of increasing the number of clergy and/or lay workers in the parish. The present disparity over staffing between various parishes in the Deanery gives continued cause for concern. It is strongly to be hoped that some additional help, both lay and ordained may be found in the future to assist in the expansion of the church’s ministry in the wider parish.


In Conclusion

Our Vision

• The vision of the parish is to provide a stable and sympathetic worshipping community within a traditional setting.

• There is also a need to address the social needs of the 21st century making adequate provision for the changing needs of the area. These will undoubtedly include facilities for Mother and Toddlers groups, young people and the Elderly Isolated as well as for uniformed organisations and the social and administrative needs of a modern parish.

• The PCC is actively committed to exploring ways in which the vibrant tradition of Faith which has been lived here down the centuries can continue and flourish in response both to the Gospel and to contemporary demands.

• To continue to provide through ‘A Living Tradition of Faith’ a focus of Christian Worship in Hayes and to proclaim the Gospel of Christ.