United Team Benefice Allerton Bywater, Kippax and Swillington ST. MARY’S CHURCH, SWILLINGTON ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 2019 Membership of the Parochial Church Council (PCC): Team Rector Reverend Canon Rosemarie Hayes Team Vicar Reverend Diane Flynn Churchwarden Dawn Marshall Diana Puxty Deanery Synod Representatives Margaret Forth (PCC Secretary) Gill Weatherhead Elected Members. James Puxty Alison Westmoreland Dianne Wilford Anne Howcroft Susan Wheeler Kathleen Harrison Mark Sigsworth (from April 2019) Electoral Roll The Electoral Roll was fully revised in 2019 and the number on the Roll is 59.. Review of the Year The PCC met 9 times, 6 scheduled meeting and three extra meetings to make urgent decisions. There was an average attendance of 75%. Following the APCM the PCC formally set up 6 sub-groups to enable the work of the Church within the Parish. The Standing Committee and Safeguarding Sub Group, Finance Sub Group, Social and Fund Raising Sub Group were already in meeting. The 3 new subgroups set up were: Fabric and Health and Safety; Worship, Nurture and Outreach; Communications. These groups meet between PCC meetings but report back with recommendations that are then discussed by the whole PCC. There have been several new initiatives to try to meet the needs of our community and to help in the mission of the church. Open the Book into School and the Share and Care Cafe. The installation of the new projector and screen, and relaying the main church path have taken much time as well as some urgent repairs. We were sorry to hear that our Team Rector, Rev Canon Rosemarie Hayes, is to retire in March 2020. We will really miss her. We would like to record our thanks to her for all she has done to facilitate the formation of our Team and her hard work in bringing us together. She has blessed us all with her unfailing support and cheerfulness and we pray that God will bless her with a very happy and fulfilling retirement. We would also like to say how grateful we are to her husband Maurice for playing his guitar with our Music Group at our All Age Services United Team Benefice Allerton Bywater, Kippax and Swillington. The Team Council has met four times in the year. The Clergy and Church Wardens continued to meet regularly for updates and sharing of information across the Team The Team joined for services on Maundy Thursday, in September for our Patronal festival and for an Advent Sunday Service. Lent lunches were held with each church taking turns to host over 5 weeks. Invited speakers spoke on The Beatitudes and promoted much discussion. A Team Songs of Praise followed by tea was enjoyed in September with excellent attendance. Team Wedding Preparation took place twice in the year, led by lay team and clergy Clergy continued to share the Sunday and the 3 Midweek Communion services and the Funerals, Weddings, Baptisms and Burial of Ashes across the 3 churches, with great thanks to each of the Teams at each Church who are involved. Thanks are also given to the retired Clergy who have also helped this year, especially Revd Gordon Cooper, covering illness and holidays. Team Church School Great Preston C of E Primary Rev Diane took weekly collective worship in school for Years 1-6. Festival Worship for Reception, Nursery, Bright Sparks (Pre School) and their families also took place in School for Easter, Harvest, Christmas and End of Year, which were all very well attended by families. Years 1-6 came into ABW Church for their Festival worship at Harvest, Christmas, Easter and Year 6 Leavers with good attendance from families. Years 1-6 and families also had Christingle/Candlemas services in school with families helping and attending. The School Worship Committee were involved in leading and sharing worship in school and church. They represented School on Remembrance Day at Great Preston monument service and attended a 40th Anniversary of Bells Service at Swillington. Good links have been made by School and Rev Diane with Great and Little Preston Parish Council, supporting and advertising each other’s activities and events. (Many school families attended the Great Preston Remembrance Service and village Christmas Light Switch On). Rev Diane supported staff through the year with monthly Staff Prayer meetings and providing pastoral care whilst in school. There has been continued good communication with School and the ABW Church community, with mutual sharing of information and events e.g. the school corner on the church internal notice board. Rev Diane as Foundation Governor attended and contributed to the Main Governors meetings/work and one of the Subgroup meetings/work, attended Safeguarding Training, checked SATs processes and went with Year 6 to the Leavers Service at Ripon Cathedral. We are still in need of a second Foundation Governor (as Libby Miller sadly had to retire from that post). Please speak to Rev Diane if this is something you are interested in being involved with. Safeguarding: This continues to be an item at every PCC meeting. The Diocesan Safeguarding Policy was adopted by PCC and website and notices now conform to requirements. All DBS checks are up to date and the Safeguarding Officer informs everyone of available training. Church Fabric and Churchyard: The Quinquennial Survey was carried out in October 2018 but, despite repeated requests to the Architect, the report has not yet been received. Church Path. Permission was received to relay the main path using original York Stone when possible but much new stone will be needed. Work started on this in October but was delayed to allow vehicle access in December. It should be completed early 2020. A List B application for the installation of a handrail will be done in 2020. Asbestos in Boiler House: This should have been removed some years ago. It was all removed in December and all contents of Boiler House were either removed or cleaned. The boiler room door was repaired and repainted. A new ceiling to protect the Vestry above will be installed in January 2020. Projector and Screen. The Faculty was granted in July and the installation was completed in December. Electrics. The five year survey was done at the same time as wiring for the projector and screen. Garden of Rembrance: Permission was given to replace the broken wooden edging to this area and Alan Walker is undertaking this work. Bench: It was agreed that Swillington in Bloom could put a bench in Garden of Remembrance once permission was granted by Diocese. A List B application will be applied for in early 2020 Closure of Churchyard. This is still being explored. Headstones: Some checking done but still to be completed.. Upkeep of the Churchyard continued by the dedicated Churchyard Volunteer Team and Swillington in Bloom for which we are very grateful. We are also grateful for the support of the Leeds Community Payback Team and the work they do in this area. Welcome, Nurture and Pastoral Care. Worship: The Sunday pattern of services continues, as well as the growing 9.30 Holy Communion Wednesday service. Baptisms are now offered at 12.30 as well as during the 10.30 service. New Baptism liturgy for both services has now been updated and used. Prayer: Morning Prayer continues on Wednesdays and Thursdays and there are prayer stations around church (Candles and Prayer Tree). Healing Prayers with anointing have been offered after services on a number of occasions. All Age Service: The planning group continues to meet regularly to plan the worship and include young people from the Uniformed Organisations as much as possible. There was another popular Songs of Praise in September Monthly worship services continue to be held across the Team. (Celtic, Healing, Choral Evensong, Iona, Taize, Café Church, Common Worship) Harvest Praise and Harvest Communion, Remembrance and Memorial services were all very well attended, Advent and Christmas Services: Christingle, Carol Service, Crib Service and Midnight Communion were all very well attended. Holy Week: There was a good mixture of worship across the Team. At Swillington, there was a Holy Week Compline, the Team Maundy Thursday service, Good Friday devotional service at 2:00 pm, Easter Dawn Praise at 6am and a very well attended Easter Communion Service Nurture Courses:. The Lent Groups with invited speakers and a light lunch were very well attended. These were held for five weeks and rotated round the three churches. Singing Cafes were held in July, October and December. House Groups: The Monday Group met regularly and a new Tuesday afternoon Group was also established. Free Resources. Bibles, prayer cards and Lent/Easter and /Advent/Christmas resources have been given away all year free to visitors and church members. Home Communions. These took place monthly for those who were unable to attend Church. Pastoral Visits continued to be made by volunteers to all those wanting a visit. Outreach and Mission Share and Care Café: This was started in September and is open to anyone who is bereaved, lonely or wishes to share problems. A group of volunteers staff the sessions on the first Wednesday of every month. Training was given by Diocesan Lay Trainer and in-house. Pop-In: This continues to provide a friendly get together for people of all ages who can just chat or join in activities which include crafts, jigsaws, lego and singing, among others. The Fund Raising and Social Group has continued to co-ordinate various events. The Snowdrop Festival was held again in February ending with a concert by the White Rose Male Voice Praise Choir. A Silent Auction was poorly attended but raised funds and was very enjoyable.