OUR NEW VICAR – THE LICENSING SERVICEWe very much look forward to welcoming our new vicar – Ashley Jane Hines – to the Benefice of Whittington with Weeford, and Hints, in May. Ashley and her husband, Roger, will live at the vicarage on Bramley Way, Whittington.Ashley will be licensed by the Bishop of Lichfield at St Giles’ Church on Thursday 23 May at 6.00pm.The number of people we can cope with in church is obviously limited but, after allowing for Ashley’s family and friends, visitors from her current church in Great Yarmouth, clergy from the Diocese and Deanery, and for members of the regular congregations at the three churches, we still have some spaces and would like to invite those living in the three villages to join us.We have reserved spaces for those members of our communities who regularly come to church (‘regular’ being at least once a month) and, if you fall into that category, you are welcome to come to the service on the day without taking any further action. We hope that you will all come if you can.If you do not regularly attend one of the three churches (including spouses/partners of those who do) but would like to come to the Licensing service, please contact David Clarke, Churchwarden, St Giles’ Church, Whittington (daclarke55@hotmail.com or 07836 334796) to reserve a space. We hope that we can accommodate all those who wish to come.
New Vicar for Whittington, Weeford and Hints After a vacancy period of some three years, I am delighted to pass on the news that the Revd Ashley Hines will become the new Vicar of Whittington with Weeford and Hints. Exact timings are yet to be agreed, but Ashley should arrive during the middle of this year. Ashley is currently Team Vicar in the Great Yarmouth Team Ministry. Following her ordination in 2015, Ashley served as a hospital chaplain in Burton-on-Trent, and as a curate in Fradley before moving to Great Yarmouth, so our region is very familiar to her. We very much look forward to Ashley joining us later this year, though we also bear in mind her clergy colleagues and parishioners in Great Yarmouth who will be sad to lose her. We pray for their search for a new incumbent which will now begin. More details regarding Ashley's arrival in our parishes will be shared in due course. Simon Donnan, Lay Chair St Giles PCC
It is nearly two years since we had a vicar looking after the three churches of St Giles’, Whittington, St Mary’s, Weeford, and St Bartholomew’s, Hints. In that time, members of the congregation have stepped up to do those tasks that we would otherwise have expected our vicar to carry out. Obviously (not being ordained or trained in some aspects of pastoral care) we can’t do everything a vicar could do, and we have had to seek assistance from some great retired clergy to help, and take the services – including baptisms, weddings, and funerals – that even our own Lay Reader, Gill Hollis, is not licensed to lead. We are conscious that we may not always be able to provide the care to the village that a vicar could, and I apologise when we fall short of your expectations. We are in the process of trying to recruit a new vicar, but this is a slow process, and we are largely at the mercy of the Diocese of Lichfield. We hope to be able to advertise in early 2023. Realistically, it will be some months more before we might have a vicar. Even when that happens, this will be a part-time appointment, covering the three parishes. This is because, going forward, we cannot afford a full-time post. But, we are still here, open for God’s business, so to speak! You are all very welcome to come to our services (9.30am each Sunday) and I can assure you of a friendly welcome. We have an excellent Parish Administrator, Lynne Mills. Lynne can be contacted on lynnewwh@outlook.com or 07721 767963. Lynne works 13 hours a week and can usually be found, in person, in the Parish Office (Church Hall) between 10.00am and 3.00pm on a Thursday. Please do contact Lynne in the first instance if you have any query. My very best wishes to you all, David David Clarke – Churchwarden, St Giles’ Church
ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETINGS (APCMs) The APCMs for all three of our churches will take place in May on the following dates: St Bartholomew’s church Hints – Wednesday 18th May at 7.30 pm in church St Mary’s church Weeford – Thursday 19th May at 11.00 am in church St Giles’ church Whittington – Sunday 22nd May after the service, approximately 10.45 am in church If anyone is interested in joining one of our Parochial Church Councils (PCCs), including the position of Church Warden, application forms will be made available. Our council members play an important role in representing all of us in making key decisions within the parish. You must be on the electoral role to be considered for these posts, but other than that we welcome people who are passionate about growing God’s Kingdom in this place. People will be voted onto the PCC at the APCM. The powers and duties of PCCs are laid down in law. Key duties are to co-operate with the vicar in promoting the mission of the Church in the parish and to be responsible for the financial affairs of the church and the care and maintenance of the church fabric and its contents. It also has a voice in the forms of service used by the church and may make representations to the bishop and deanery synod on matters affecting the welfare and pastoral care of the parish. Our PCCs meet regularly to discuss matters about the life of the Church. Apart from finance and buildings, they consider the Church's mission and involvement in the community, support of missionary work, the social life and activities of the Church, the spiritual development of the congregation and our worship.
