Click here to read the November 2006 Fabric Report
The
Parish of SS. Barnabas & Paul, Oxford
(Cardigan Street Oxford OX2 6BG)
Background Together
with the Incumbent, Fr.Michael Wright, the PCC has sought to proclaim
the Gospel of the risen Christ in the Parish of Jericho according
to the Catholic tradition which it has inherited and with every means
at its disposal. It has also sought to provide spiritual refreshment
to those from outside the parish who worship at St.Barnabas. |
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Membership of the PCC The
Revd.E.Michael Wright (Incumbent – Chairman) |
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Church Attendance
There are 93 on the new Electoral Roll (previously
100)
The average number of Sunday communicants in May was 65 (probable attendance
72)
Review of the Year
The PCC met 5 times during the year and the Annual Meeting was held on April 6th.
We have maintained our high standard of liturgical worship during the year thanks to the unfailing dedication of our Organist, Choir Director and Choir and the commitment of our altar servers, though we do need more people to assist in the Sanctuary. It is this excellence which brings many to join us in our worship and we must cherish and enhance it. It is an essential ingredient of what St.Barnabas is all about.
The other essential ingredient, as I see it, depends on the unique position of the Church of England as being the “national” church of this land. For most British people the C. of E. represents Christianity and it is to the local Anglican church that people usually turn if they are looking for anything of a spiritual input to their lives and for lots of other reasons. When you have such a geographically well defined parish such as this one and such a dominant building it is no wonder that St. Barnabas has such a strong position in the community which is Jericho. Through the school and the Community Centre and the location of the Vicarage the church has the opportunity to reach many people who do not make a habit of coming to church regularly. If I’m allowed to look ahead a little I would plead that this ingredient is given prominence in the Parish Profile being compiled for applicants for the post of Priest in Charge of this parish.
In September, after much discussion, the PCC passed Resolution B which means that applications for the post of Priest-in-Charge are restricted to male priests. In view of the subsequent survey of the congregation’s views in which a majority was in favour of women priests in principle but also a majority was against having a female Parish Priest at St.Barnabas at this time it seems to me the PCC took the right decision.
During the year the three named Trustees of the Church Institute, which houses the Community Centre, have been replaced by the PCC as Managing Trustees with the Diocese as Custodian Trustees (this is the same arrangement as for our properties in Cardigan Street). As negotiations continue with the Community Association and the City Council the PCC can look forward to having the Institute regularly on the agenda and will be very much in the debt of Richard Whitlock, a former Trustee, who has agreed to act on behalf of the PCC in these negotiations. British Waterways has chosen a “preferred developer” to draw up plans for the development of the Castle Mill Boatyard and, when they are published, they will require careful scrutiny to ensure the best achievable scheme goes to the planning authority.
The Accounts for 2006 show a healthy increase in both Collections and Planned Giving and yet we finished the year with a debit balance of £20.000. This figure almost exactly equates with the amount spent on the fabric and was made up with money from the Property Account. Maybe in future an amount from the Property Account could be budgeted to be spent on the fabric for the forthcoming year and so it would be clear what money was available to spend on maintaining our beautiful building. Another sum could be put in the budget for mission and growth which would go towards balancing our priorities.
The church has hosted a number of Concerts and visits during the year. Just after the last Annual Meeting, on Palm Sunday, 40 members of the John Betjeman Society visited the church and we gave them them lunch which was very much appreciated. The 2006 sponsored Cycle Ride continued in the splendid tradtion established by Fr.Dennis and raised £1477 (of which £900 was raised by Dorothy Woodward!) and we are very grateful to all who rode & sponsored riders. Our “Bring & Share” Sunday Lunches have established themselves as a regular feature of our Summer programme. In October Fr.James Trevelyan came to preach at the Dedication Festival and blessed the flagpole plaque. In February the Blue Plaque to the Combes on the tower was blessed.
Amongst highlights of the year I must include the production of the Choir’s very successful CD of Christmas music; a glance at the Accounts will reveal how well it has done financially but it has also emphasised again how fortunate we are to have a choir of such a standard. We also had the priviledge of a visit from Bishop Timothy Bavin OSB on our Patronal Festival (which happened to coincide with Trinity Sunday). He celebrated the Mass of St.Barnabas in the evening and confirmed Thloni Masipa which was especially fitting as he had himself been a bishop in South Africa. On “family” matters we rejoiced with Fr.Mark on his ordination to the priesthood in September and with Gabrielle Harvey on her marriage to Matthew and with Karen Melham on the baptism of Magnus and Janet Howarth on the baptism of her granddaughter Emily and with Helen & Sebastian Brock on the 40th. anniversary of their marrtiage. In Jericho we said goodbye to Martin & Paula who had maintained the garage at the bottom of Wellington St. for many years; they were very much a feature of local life.
During the difficult six months when I stood down from the conduct of public worship and from pastoral ministry because of the charges laid against me the parish has been greatly in debt to a number of people who have maintained the liturgical pattern and pastoral care. Above all it is Margaret Ellis who has tirelessly worked to minister to all who worship here and to the school and community. She has also been a tower of strength to me personally. Claire Herbertson has managed to maintain a rota of priests to say mass and we are grateful to all of them and in particular Fr. Simon from Merton, our Curate, Fr.Mark, Fr.Dennis and Fr.Allen from Keble and the clergy of Pusey House. Ricky Whitlock has continued to supervise work on the fabric and Alan Martin to oversee the finances.
As I come to the end of 27 years of ministry in this place I recall many many happy occasions and I shall refer to some of those next Sunday but I do not want simply to be nostalgic. This congregation stayed together and deepened its common life during the “exile” when the floor was being replaced. I believe it will again flourish during the interregnum when inevitably the laity take on much more responsibility and, to a certain extent, this will have to continue with a new Parish Priest who will himself have other duties besides the care of this parish. The priest here has unusual opportunities to serve the community in addition to being supported by the richness of the spiritual life of the church. I pray that the Holy Spirit inspires the right person to apply to come here and that, supported by you, he will be able to develop that spriritual life and enhance the service offered to the people of Jericho.
Finally we have said farewell during the year to Phyllis Webster, Elsie Hancox, John Stack and Susan Ess from the congregation and also to Wendy Gray, Clyde Morgan, Cecily Eeley and Avril Harbottle. May they Rest in Peace & Rise in Glory.
Fr. Michael Wright
26th.
April 2007
Click here to read the November 2006 Fabric Report
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