NEWS
Bridget and Cheryl attended the Service of Welcome and Enthronement of The Right Reverend Dr Joanne Grenfell, 12th Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich on Saturday 24th January at St Edmundsbury Cathedral.
A full nave, flickering candles in all the candelabra and contemplative Taizé chants made for a special atmosphere at the Benefice Evensong for Candlemas at Barsham onSunday 1st February. Special thanks to Sarah for leading the choir, and to those who provided such a delicious tea.
The sales table understudied and organised by Bridget raised a splendid £140.00.
Amy reports that 123 items were donated to the Foodbank in January.
FORWARD PLANNING
Light Show, St Michael’s Beccles, Saturday 14th March, 6.30-8.30pm. See St Michael’s as never before with light installations by visual artist William Lindley. Come and go any time during the evening. Booking not required. Donations gratefully received. Refreshments on sale.
Vernal Equinox, Friday 20th March. The illumination of the rood, weather permitting, will be on the 19th, 20th & 21st March at about 5.15pm.
Annual Parochial Church Meeting and Annual Meeting of Parishioners, Sunday 22nd March. These will take place in the church immediately after morning service and before coffee. If you cannot attend and would like copies of the audited financial statements, please contact Dominique ([email protected]).
Easter Day, Sunday 5th April. The Bishop of Richborough, The Right Reverend Luke Irvine-Capel SSC, will be presiding at Eucharist.
Organ recital and tea, Saturday 30th May at 3pm. Dr David Flood, for 32 years Organist and Master of Choristers at Canterbury Cathedral, will be giving a recital at Holy Trinity Barsham. Details to follow.
Summer Lunch, Wednesday 1st July. At the kind invitation of Nick and Jenny Caddick, at St Bartholomew’s, Shipmeadow.
SNIPPETS – Colin’s Historical Reflections on the APCM
It is the time of year when Church Officers are busily preparing their reports on the previous year’s activities for presentation to the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM). The meeting, which must take place by the 31st May, appears to be one meeting but is in fact two. First is the Annual Meeting of Parishioners (AMP) at which the only business is the election of the Churchwardens, and not only those on the Church electoral role but also all parishioners listed on the Parliamentary role, church-goers or not and people of any faith, are entitled to vote.
Immediately following the AMP, and generally quite seamlessly, the APCM takes place and at this only those listed on the Church electoral role may vote. The purpose of the APCM is to receive the reports on fabric, finance and the general activities of the church, and to elect PCC members, Deanery Synod representatives, and to appoint an independent auditor.
Historically the situation was very different. The meeting often then referred to as either the Vestry or Easter Meeting was, until late Victorian times, responsible for all activities within the parish whether secular or religious. In addition to the Churchwardens, also elected were, an Overseer of the Poor who administered the Poor Law, a Surveyor of the Highways responsible for the maintenance of thoroughfares in the parish, and the appointment of sexton. Financial and fabric matters were normally undertaken by the incumbent, who often met the cost of church repairs himself.
Whilst at a small parish like Barsham the proceedings were relatively straightforward, in larger parishes they could be more complex. At the Vestry meeting of 1797 at St. Peter Mancroft Norwich, in addition to the two churchwardens, also elected were two sidesmen, a pew opener, a bellows blower, an organist, an upper and lower sexton, a clerk, four overseers of the poor and remarkably, twelve auditors.
During the nineteenth century there was a growing discontent at the Church’s involvement in secular matters. This culminated in the passing of the Local Government Act of 1894, which removed all secular business from the Vestry Meetings, transferring it to the newly established elected Parish Councils. This transition was not without issues, the literacy and numeracy so evident in the clergy was not always present in the local population, who were now expected to chair and conduct business. Additionally, charities previously administered by the Church were, if of a secular nature, transferred to the Parish Councils, but many charities were of indeterminate status and posed a divisive issue.
In Barsham the incumbent, the Rev. Allan Coates, a traditionalist, was strongly opposed to the new legislation and believed sincerely that Church and State could best work together. His response to the newly formed Parish Council’s desire to take over the single charity paying £2 9s 0d for churchyard maintenance was somewhat brusque. The final sentence of his letter to the Parish Council states ‘I do not care to have it said even by one person that I am dealing with funds to which I have no legal right, especially in the face of the fact that every year I dispense from my own pocket over £30 in cash aid of the Clubs and pensions to my parishioners’. The matter was resolved by the Charity Commissioners, who deemed that the charity be divided equally between the two councils, with trustees Rev. Allan Coates, George Self and Walter Felgate appointed to ensure good management of the charity. However, Coates was resolute in his refusal to act as chairman of the Parish Council, which resulted in no meetings being conducted from the 22nd April 1897 until the 4th August 1915 when, partly because of the war time situation, he finally relented and took the chair! Parish Councils in Barsham were thereafter held successfully on a regular basis.
In contrast, Parochial Church Councils since 1894 have successfully undertaken their reduced role, and today the Most Holy Trinity Barsham is blessed with an excellent Council whose dedicated members are unified in their resolve and industry to ensure the continued success of this beautiful Parish Church with its friendly atmosphere and very special style of worship. If possible, please spare a little of your time and remain in Church after the morning service to attend the APCM on the 22nd March to discover the activities and events of your PCC over the past year.
MARCH DIARY
Sunday 1st March – Second Sunday in Lent. 11am Sung Eucharist (BCP). Revd Jonathan Olanczuk.
Sunday 8th March – Third Sunday in Lent. 11am Sung Eucharist (BCP). Revd Canon John Fellows.
Sunday 15th March – Fourth Sunday in Lent. Mothering Sunday. 11.15amSung Eucharist (BCP). Revd Desmond Banister.
Sunday 22nd March – Fifth Sunday in Lent. Passion Sunday.11am Sung Eucharist (BCP). Revd Graham Naylor.
Sunday 29th March – Palm Sunday. 11am Sung Eucharist (BCP). Revd Graham Naylor.
Church correspondent: Robert Bacon 07867 306016, [email protected]