Why volunteer? At times its a question I ask myself! I suppose that I’m one of those people who truly believe that you get more out of life if you put more into it.
If you become involved. I still believe that, and during what volunteering I have done, I have met inspirational people and made many friends. Why do I volunteer at St Mary’s in particular? Certainly being a church warden can feel like a full time job and its only after two years that I am beginning to feel more confident in the role. I feel I know the workings of the church building a lot more, I’m more thoughtful and cognisant of the liturgical calendar, I’m involved in some of the decision making processes and I have a wider appreciation of how the Diocese works. I would like to sit down after a service and have coffee and conversation with people, but I don’t always achieve that.
As a church warden I work closely with all those who volunteer to maintain the church and church life; from those who arrange the flowers and Easter garden to those who during their welcoming stint dust the pews or replenish the loo rolls; to those who hand out hymn books, make tea and coffee, count the collection, act as Eucharist Assistant and take part in our Embracing Church services. We are so fortunate to have a retired architect who has saved us thousands with her expert knowledge and due diligence. All these things that we take for granted are performed by a small team of volunteers.
I am also part of the Arts Team who manage the social events that occur in the church and which raise money vital to the upkeep of our building. It’s a very small band of amazing people who organise the lighting, staging and welcoming for various groups, quartets, organisations, charities and festivals. And the clue to all this is in the word…..small.
St Mary’s needs volunteers. Just to exist. Just to survive. To ensure we stay relevant. To provide a service to those in need.
Our church needs over £400 per day to meet its running costs. We are responsible for a grade 1 listed building in constant use by the public which means that everything, from the licenses for the computer to the lightning protection, fire safety, electrical systems, organ repairs and general health and safety comes down to us. We receive no financial support from the government, the Church of England, the Diocese of Oxford or the local council. Every penny we require for running costs, building maintenance and parish ministry has to be raised by the church community.
The social events last year raised over £24,000, an amazing achievement and the calendar is almost fully booked for 2026, but we struggle with staffing the bar and running the sound system and that’s when things can become tough. When you volunteer you become part of a friendly team who enjoy seeing the church lit up with the amazing light system and full of people enjoying an evening out. You learn new skills, meet loads of interesting people, get to see shows free of charge and have the satisfaction that you are part of something bigger.
More volunteers would help to spread the load. Could you consider being part of the Arts Team? Do you want to play a bigger role in our church services and be on the rota (all training given), then please chat to one of the church wardens!
- Please think about it
- Be involved
- Come and have a chat
Caroline Owens
Church Warden