Vicar's Bit For February
Local Craft Display
The book of Proverbs ends not with a pithy saying, rather with an Ode to a Capable Wife. A wife who is good with people, also with trading; her craft being spinning wool and flax on distaff and spindle. “She makes herself coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Strength and dignity are her clothing and she laughs at the time to come”.
The diverse and marvellous ways we do arts and crafts, in all its human ingenuity, and the display of such arts and crafts is, I think, akin to a human harvest festival. There are out there folk in our communities with a gift. In thinking of how we might celebrate our hobbies and our down-time activities, it seemed a really good idea to have a local crafts and art display, a benefice-wide show. Do you draw or paint or design cards, sow or knit or crochet, shape wood and make furniture, create baskets or doilies, put together delicate flower displays, make craft beer or country wine, or produce a delicious edible speciality??? Then we have a special day for you.
On the afternoon of Saturday May 10th, at Corse and Staunton Village Hall, we are holding an display of locally made arts and crafts. If you have something to display, please contact your churchwarden. The churchwardens are gathering together the names of those displaying arts and crafts, and what art or craft will be put display. Later in the evening, when the displays are ended, we are holding a concert at Corse and Staunton Village Hall given by the Cotswold Male Voice Choir.
Everything raised by entry to the local art and craft display, and to the evening concert, will go towards the cost of ministry, the Benefice Parish Share.
Sounds good. Perhaps the day will become an Ode to a Capable Benefice…
Festival Service at Hasfield Church
We are hoping that the work on Hasfield Church tower will be completed in February. With the scaffolding taken down, do come during the day to admire the renewed mortar and stone work on the tower. And of course the lovely display of churchyard snowdrops.
The first Hasfield Church festival service of the year is with the Evensong Singers. They will help lead a sung Evensong 6pm on Sunday 9th February. Expect a warm church with church music being sung at its very best surrounded by candlelight. Join us at a memorable spiritually reflective service.
Vicar's Bit For March
New Parish Share Model
In the first half of the year parishes across Gloucestershire are involved in a once in a decade consultation. The current Diocesan Parish Share model does not work. £2 million in reserves each year are used. Unless changed, the Anglican church locally will shortly not be financially viable. Which will mean no vicar to take Sunday services, funerals or weddings.
We are being asked by the Gloucester Diocese Board of Finance to give to the GDBF figures for what we have in our church current account and in our reserves, and the numbers coming to church on a usual Sunday. The combined figures for the seven churches in our West of Severn Benefice are then put in a ‘band’ for 2026, and we are asked to commit to raise our giving in this band over the next three years. The medium band are benefices giving £75,085 to £91,771 a year to the cost of ministry. This year we are promising £64,290. So ideally across our benefice we need to raise our giving by £10,000 more in 2026, and in the following two years.
The GDBF have laid out what is the cost of ministry paid for by the parish share, and what is not. The largest sum is the cost of the vicar and the cost of the house the vicar lives in. Included in the cost of ministry is the cost of training, curates, and Archdeacon’s offices. Not included are HR and safeguarding costs, the Diocesan Secretariat and its office costs, and legal fees, the church building team and church schools.
It is hoped that the new system gives all round clarity, transparency and simplicity. We share our church books and the GDBF explain how the cost of ministry is reached. This honest dialogue it is hoped will encourage generosity.
Nationally, planned giving by church members, is £15 a week per person. That is over £750 a year. The costs of ministry are constant so it is helpful for treasurers to know how much you are planning to give each week. We receive gift aid when one gives to church through the Parish Giving Scheme. This planned and generous level of giving makes an enormous difference to our church treasurers. As do contributions made to church on the day. In Maisemore Church and Hartpury Church you can give by credit card. Do try it.
However because the challenge is stretching us, we are doing three extra events this year to raise money across the benefice for the parish share. A jumble sale in January. A craft and arts day, with a concert on May 10th. And a flower festival and celebration of our ancient church chests on July 12th/13th.
With so many church members being senior citizens, I and our church teams, are very grateful to you for your support. Across the benefice people are making magnificent efforts. Please talk to our church treasurers if you think you might be able to help us financially, including the thought that you might give to the church in your Will. Contributions to the future cost of ministry, keeping our churches thriving, are urgently needed.
Paul gives us good advice in 2 Corinthians 9,10
Each one should give, then, as they have decided, not with regret or out of a sense of duty; for God loves the one who gives gladly. And God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause.