Future Developments

At our church council held on Sunday 28th Jan a major step to safeguard the future of our church was taken

Work to renew the whole of our electrical wiring and church lights was taken. Also the creation of fire precautions such as the creation of fire resistant stairways and emergency lighting is also to be fitted.

This will be the first phase of maintaining the safety of the building , not just for now but well into this centuary. The work will cost around £12,000 and is to start shortly.

A second phase will follow to secure the fabric of the walls and roof, and any donations for this work will be gratefully received

We have Stewart Washbourne, our property steward to thank for organising this and his efforts will ensure that our church continues to serve the community of Coal Aston and Holmesdale for future generations.

At the church council in March it was proposed to change the time of Morning Worship from 11am to 10.30. This was voted on and was unanimous. However it was decided to put this to the vote in a ballot to the whole churc which is to take place soon.

At a recent ballot and at the meeting to discuss this it was decided to change service timed to 10.30 am from July 2007, On the 2nd Sunday when it is Anamchara a rolling service will take place. Coffee will follow Anamchara and there will be a change over period between 10.30 and 10.45. People will be able to come and leave at any time appropriate during both services.

Work on the electrical safety and fire safety has now been completed and the next phase of the work is to be started by insulating the roof and widening the roof entrance at a cost of £2000.

Church Council meeting 16th October2007

The main door, railings and side doors are to be renovated at a cost of around £700, and the path is to be tarmaced and repaired. The notice board is to be repainted with the new times.

Next year a harvest lunch after the service is to be held instead of a supper and the produce to be given to the Archer project. This years auction raised about £100

The treasurer gave her report and said we had received a legacy from Mrs Grimleys estate, which would pay for the rest of our building plans. A suggestion was made to give some to other projects but this was turned down.

Boys' Brigade reported an increase in numbers and asked for more help, especially when regular members of staff were absent and it was suggested that a rota may be set up. No offers were forth coming. Complaints were made becausesome damage had been done to the lock on the safe, and doors had been left open. Other members wondered why the vestry had been used, and why there were so many staff in BB. Others questioned the wisdom of recruiting. Someone else reported finding boys upstairs in the church using the audio equipment, and they were not to be allowed in the church anyway.

The Autumn Fayre had been a sucess raising just over £900. Complaints were made that an extra stall selling sweets had disrupted the table plan, and this should have been reported to the committee beforehand.

It was reported that the Christmas Eve Journey to Bethlehem had been cancelled.

There was no time left to discuss Worship and the meeting closed with a prayer.

Church Councils in 2008 mainly concentrated on further up grading of the church fabric. Anamchara was to be the only service on 2nd Sunday of the month. Reports from the youth of the church showed a big increase in numbers in Boys Brigade and quite a few parents and boys were coming to the Anamchara Services. Sunday Club, despite the small number of children available on a Sunday Morning was continueing with a dedicated staff, and Traditional activities, ie Anniversary, Nativity and a Queen were continueing at the moment.