The PCC (Parochial Church Council) is incredibly delighted to announce that we have been successful in gaining building grants from the National Churches Trust and The Wolfson Foundation. These grants are £10,000 each and have to be matched with funding from our own savings (so around £40k in total.) Whilst this will be a strain on our finances, we will be able to repair and re-point the stonework around the east and north of the church. This will reduce the damp and on-going <a></a>issues with the internal plasterwork. We are busy applying for grants to help with roof repairs!
Recently the Church of England has introduced Prayers of Love and Faith. These are prayers which can be said with and for a same-sex couple to celebrate their relationship. Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley (Bishop of Newcastle) describes them with these words “The Prayers of Love and Faith are resources to pray with and for a same-sex couple who are committed to one another in faithfulness and love. They are intended to enable those who wish to give thanks for and joyfully mark that commitment before God and their community of faith.” At present these have been approved nationally to be commended for use. This means that they aren’t something each church has to use, like the order of service for Baptism. But each church must make their own decision to offer them or not. At St. Mary’s we discussed this at our last PCC, and we are keen to offer these prayers. At present we can only offer them in the context of a regular service (Sunday Morning), rather than as a standalone service, though there is hope that soon we will be able to offer these. For me it’s therefore a sadness that we cannot yet offer either a standalone service or a service of marriage for a same-sex couple. This recent change feels like half a step in the right direction and there is much further to go. I would therefore like to extend a warm welcome to any same-sex couple who would like to join us for Prayers of Love and Faith. As a time to celebrate your relationship and to bring it before God. If this is something you would like or would like to talk about more you can contact me on 0191 3882228 or revjestall@gmail.com Grace and Peace Rev. John Estall
Yet another theft of lead from the roof of St Mary's has resulted in more damage. Local resident Gemma Niles was so upset that she started a JustGiving page with an initial target of £500 to help the church with the repairs and damage caused. Within days this target had been reached after Gemma asked for just £1 from every adult in the village!The Church Council, meeting yesterday, expressed their deep thanks to Gemma and every single person who donated.
