The APCM was held on Sunday 6 April. Revd Rebecca led the meeting. Diana Condliffe, who stood down after three years as Churchwarden, was thanked for all her hard work. Sonja Harris and Tess Brocksopp were both proposed as new churchwardens and were duly appointed. Chris Hill informed us that there are now 51 people on the Electoral Roll. Beth Carrick, our Treasurer, reported that we had paid 100% of the Parish Share last year. Beth was thanked for all her work. Thanks were also given to Ricci Achillini, Independent Examiner of the financial records. Sonja was elected to become the second Deanery Synod representative, together with Tess. PCC Elections - Diana, Stan and Ellie stepped down from the PCC. Two new members, Veronica Reed and James Brocksopp, were elected. Also on the PCC are: Yvette Croft (Safeguarding), Sally Esposito (Secretary), Beth Carrick (Treasurer), Richard Randall and Steve Pope. Peter Campbell is co-opted as the representative of the Friends of the Tin Church, Brokerswood. Tess and Sonja will also attend PCC meetings as Churchwardens/Deanery Synod reps.
The Easter Fun Morning at All Saints' Church on Saturday 19th April was very well attended and a fun time was had by all! Over 80 children and their families visited the church for crafts, colouring, seed planting and an Easter egg hunt. They also listened to the Easter story and sang songs. Many thanks to everyone who contributed to making this event for primary school aged children, and their younger brothers and sisters, such a success.
"God has given us an opportunity to share in His kingdom work. All we have to do is to show up by giving ourselves and our resources. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up" Galatians 6 v 9.Our March meeting, held at the home of Michael and Jane Brake on a lovely sunny Spring morning, welcomed Ann Salter, a member of the Salisbury/Sudan Medical Link to talk to us about her visit to South Sudan, visiting 16 health clinics and meeting with local Mothers' Union groups in the area. This visit was completely self-funded as any money raised is used to help fund the training of clinical officers, nurses, midwives and other staff to provide high quality care. There is an urgent need for midwifery training in South Sudan which has the world's highest maternal death rate as well as a high infant mortality. A career as a nurse herself allowed Ann to visit with understanding and to see for herself what the staff have to deal with on a daily basis. The Salisbury/Sudan link supplies basic kits which include, antibiotics, antimalarials and pain killers and maternal delivery packs for safe birthing. These packs cost £5 each and as a group we hope to raise money later in the year to support this aspect of their work. Major fund raising for the work comes from Open Gardens in Salisbury, a summer Fete at South Canonry and a Christmas Fair, as well as individual donations and the support of parishes in the diocese. Ann was thanked by Veronica and given a copy of our 100 ways to be thankful book of reflections which had been gathered during lockdown. Jocelyn told us of the many other dates for Mothers' Union for the rest of March which will be reported on in the next magazine.Prayers were shared and Jane thanked for her hospitality . Our next meeting on April 3rd at 10am at the home of Jocelyn, will be "Easter Thoughts and Customs," an intriguing title which I am sure will not disappoint.Enid Holbrow.
On Saturday 15 March twelve people met to find out how they can support the future of Westbury Parish Hall. The congregation of All Saints' Church are asking for the people of Westbury to get behind their vision to create a community hub. Around 5 of these were non-church members including Andrew Murrison MP who expressed his hope that the Hall remains open for community use.The congregation of All Saints' are faced with the double responsibility of the Grade I Listed church which requires tens of thousands of work on the roof, stonework and windows and the expense of upgrading the tired Parish Hall. They are unable to support both projects alone and are asking for a community based charity to take on the management and development of the Hall. Individuals are asked to show their support and become members of the new Charitable Incorporated Organisation that they hope to set up. Trustees and volunteers would be drawn from these members. The new charity will need project managers, fundraisers, and people who can help to manage the hall on a day to day basis.The congregation have reached crunch point. The deteriorating condition of the Hall means that it is getting harder to get bookings and it's no longer covering its running costs. As the church only just breaks even each year this is not sustainable. If nothing changes there is a real possibility of having to close and sell the Hall. Everyone who attended the meeting agreed that it would be a tragedy as the Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, St John Ambulance Cadets, Youth Club and the other community users will have to find an alternate venue. It has so much potential if we could just get Westbury behind the project.If you would like to support the Hall project please complete the membership application form below and send to Beth on beth@whtministry.org.uk or 07790 870 247 by the 31 March. Please contact Beth if you need further information. The steering group will then meet to see if there is enough support to make the new charity viable and if so call a meeting of potential members after Easter and agree next steps together.
