And then there was one… The APCM took place only the day before I am writing this so I hope that you will forgive me repeating some of what I said.
First of all, I want to thank Linda for all she has done in the last 3 years and more. Behind every service and every church activity she has been planning and making sure everyone knows what to do. She has also been, for many, the face of the church in the village as I am an expat living in Hildenborough. I certainly will miss her hard work and am thankful that she will be on the PCC for the next 3 years to prompt me and provide her wisdom.
Lisa Srotyr has also stepped down after 16 years as PCC secretary. Her experience and wisdom has guided the PCC, planned our meetings and recorded the minutes over all this time. Recently she also took on the important role as our Safeguarding Officer. So a big thank you to her too for all her dedicated service.
What would we do without Gill too? She has willingly stepped up to take on extra duties to fill in some of the gaps left by Lisa and Linda. Thank you Gill for being the safe pair of hands that ensures St Mary’s and everything that goes on in and around it runs smoothly.
I would also like to pay tribute to the many volunteers. Some roles we all see, others happen quietly when no one is around but everyone and every job is important to the continuing and smooth running of our community. So I want to take this opportunity to publicly say thank you to everyone for your support. By the time this is printed we will have had our volunteers tea party.
Easter 2026
This easter, we aimed to do things slightly different than before. On Palm Sunday - as you will have seen from our front cover - we were led by donkeys Stanley & Walter up the hill to the church. On Maundy Thursday, we gathered in the Genner Rooms for our Tenebrae service; on Good Friday, we joined together for a walk of witness; and on Easter Saturday, we hosted our first Egg Hunt with many families searching and colouring in eggs across the green and then up at the church. It was great to see so many people attending and coming together. Once again, many thanks to all those who enabled all this to take place - not least Richard & Sal Hamlyn (of Westwood Farm, Weald).
Over the last year we have continued to have services supported by visiting priests aiming to provide for diverse traditions. Reluctantly during 2025 the PCC has reduced the 8am communion to only 2nd & 4th Sundays, due to the number of churches in vacancy locally needing someone to officiate. Since the retirement of the Youth and Families Minister the Churchwardens have led Worship services on 2nd and 4th Sundays, which are also broadcast on YouTube, and Forest Church meets on 1st & 3rd Sundays co-ordinated by Bel and Madeleine.
Our finances are stable, although we have to rely on spending our reserves to balance the books. A huge thank-you to those who have responded to my call last month and donated £1000 towards funding the tower repairs. I pray that a few more will come forward to fill the funding gap.
Looking forward to the coming year I do not anticipate any dramatic changes. Unfortunately there is little progress to report on finding a vicar, as the outcome of reorganisation of the parishes to the West of us, which may take another 18 months, is key. In many ways we are doing too good a job of “carrying on regardless” in the 3 1/2 years since Lionel left. I think we are blessed with a team of retired priests who do so much for us, including behind the scenes. I know I am not the only one who values the variety of perspectives & approaches they bring to our worship, giving us fresh insights to God, Christ and the Holy Spirit. We are also developing our own team to lead and talk in services.
Pentecost falls on the 24th May this year. “Suddenly a sound like the blowing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house…They saw what seems to be tongues of fire that... came to rest on each of them” do read the rest of Acts chapter 2 for the full story.
With God’s Blessings,
Richard,
Churchwarden