The Collegiate and Parish Church of St Mary de Castro
Growing the Parish in the 21st Century.
Introduction.
Following a meeting of the PCC, in September 2020, with Bishop Norman, the Archdeacon of Leicester, Father Philip O’Reily and Father Johannes Arens the Church Wardens were tasked to continue further discussion with the members of the Clergy at the meeting and return to the PCC in December with some thoughts on how the Parish would move forward and grow.
The outcome of their meetings and deliberations was the Quo Vadis document that was presented to the PCC in December 2020.
The PCC agreed that the document should be used as the model for the future of St Mary’s and asked the Wardens to develop the Quo Vadis proposals into a workable outline plan for the Parish. At its meeting on the 24th March 2021 the PCC agreed that this plan would used as the model to take the Parish forward.
Whilst we wish to remain a Resolution Parish under the spiritual guidance of the Bishop of Richborough we also acknowledge that we are part of the Diocese of Leicester and will always extend a welcome to the Bishops and Archdeacons of the Diocese to preach and celebrate
A Parish Priest for the Parish.
As the Quo Vadis document has outlined, we do not expect that, in the foreseeable future, either a stipendiary Priest or a retired Priest will be appointed to the Parish, although we do anticipate the appointment of a Priest in Charge relatively soon as we understand this to be a legal requirement. The PCC agreed to pursue the partnership model. This model, which involves using the services of clergy from neighbouring parishes and those who have retired from full time duties, has served us well during the first six months of the interregnum. The clergy who have been “looking after us” during that period have expressed their willingness, and indeed their enthusiasm, for continuing in this role. These Priests include:
- Father Philip O’Reily.
- Father Johannes Arens.
- Father Chris Oxley.
- Father Alan Hawker.
- Father Andrew Lee.
- Father Jeff Hopewell.
There are several other clergy who we have yet to have discussion with who we believe will also be willing to become part of our partnership.
We believe that working on this collegiate basis will serve the parish well and bring a wider dimension to our services.
In relation to day-to-day Pastoral matters it is intended that we will have a core group of clergy who will be available to members of the wider congregation. Initially this will comprise of Father Philip O’Reily, Father Johannes Arens and Father Chris Oxley.
This group will be available for confessions, sick communions and those matters that members of the congregation would seek support, help and guidance from their parish priest.
Given that St Mary’s will be working on a significantly different basis to the normal Church of England Parish, there is an intention to produce a Parish Handbook that among other items will list contact details for the Clergy, Church Wardens etc
Managing the Parish.
As outlined in the Quo Vadis document we believe that one of the current strengths of St Mary’s is that within the PCC, the Warden team and the wider congregation we have a range of very capable people who are not only quite competent to manage the Day-to-Day administration of the parish, but are happy to get on with it.
We have a remarkably diverse range of skills, qualifications and members with relevant professional backgrounds. We work well together as a team and have been able to achieve many things in the last few years. e.g., the completion of the first phase of our restoration and re-ordering programme.
However, the PCC recognise that the Parish will require a broader management structure to undertake the plans outlined in this document and are therefore agreed:
- The Church Representation Rules 2020 provide (Rule M31) that the PCC shall have a Standing Committee with the churchwardens being ex office members plus at least two other members of the PCC appointed by resolution of the PCC.
- The Standing Committee will meet more frequently, possibly on a fortnightly or monthly basis, and will take direct oversight of the proposals outlined in Section 3 of this plan. The Standing Committee will report to the PCC on these matters.
- Each of the proposals in Section 3 will have a lead person appointed by the PCC, some of whom will be from the wider St Mary’s Community.
- The Fabric Sub Committee will continue to manage the day to day up keep of the building and also the ongoing restoration and re-ordering programme. As previously they will report to the PCC. The Fabric Sub Committee will be chaired by one of the Church Wardens.
- The Treasurer, together with the Church Wardens, will take responsibility for the Parish Budget and ensuring the various projects stay within their allocated budget.
Establishing a Programme of Outreach and Mission.
The basis of the programme is the suggestions agreed early in the tenure of Father David, when the PCC spent a day at Launde Abbey.
The list is now in a broad order of priorities.
At the time that this plan was being drafted the Parish was in the process of designing an installing a servery that would enable us to offer refreshments to our congregation, guests and visitors. Hospitality has always played an important role in the life of the church and we are glad that we will be able to offer this facility.
1. Build stronger links with the student population at De Montfort University, including devising services attractive to students.
1. Work with Father Johannes Arens, Chaplin at De Montfort University, to establish a series of links and actions to move this area forward.
2. Expand our Open-Door Programme and provide training to new and existing volunteer Stewards. That training would include an approach to mission.
1. Recruit new Stewards via:
• Social Media
• Personal Contact
• Press articles and local radio interviews.
2. Devise a training programme that includes aspects of mission, health and safety and a knowledge of the history and architecture of the Church.
3. Action the training programme for all existing and new Stewards.
4. Put in place a programme of annual refresher training for Stewards.
3. Build and Maintain a fully Functioning Website and increase our presence on Social Media.
1. Appoint a web master to build and maintain the parish website. The web master to be advised of the outline of the pages on the site. (we have been able to identify a person, who is not a member of the congregation but is a professional web site builder to take on this role)
2. Appoint a member of the congregation to look after the current Facebook page, set up a groups/pages on other social media platforms.
4. Expand the number of events taking place at St Mary’s – concerts, lectures etc.
1. Draw up a list of contacts from organisations who may be interested in using St Marys as a venue. The PCC have been asked to contribute to this list.
Add to the list those organisations that have previously used the church.
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2. Produce a “flyer” and circulate it to organisations that may be interested in using the church.
3. Contact those organisations that have used the church in recent years.
4. Agree letting conditions and prices.
5. Given the number of concerts and other musical events we have hosted in the past and expect to host in the future, item 7 in this section has an added significance.
5. Develop our heritage opportunities as part of attracting more people to our historic church.
1. Obtain funding to allow the appointment of a Heritage Consultant to advise on the programme. The brief to the Consultant to include:
- Heritage Activity Days.
- Materials for use by schools.
- Material for use by general public.
- Display material for use in the church.
- Setting up the area under the tower as a heritage display area.
- How we might maximise the income from the heritage element of the church.
2. Publicise the church as a “heritage venue”.
3. Produce a flyer to circulate to Tourism Information Offices, Schools, Community Groups and Organisations (e.g., WI, Rotary Clubs).
6. Provide a resource for the homeless alongside other churches in the city.
1. Work with SoundCafe to explore how we may be of assistance to them in promoting their objectives (note that Alan Fletcher is Co-Chair of the board of Trustees of Sound Café and will be its Chair from March 2021. The charity has been the beneficiary of a Bishops’ Mission Order from Bishop Martyn)
2. Two suggestions that have been made are that small workshops and some Choir rehearsals should be at St Mary’s.
The Executive Overview from SoundCafe’s Case for support is attached to this document as Appendix 1. SoundCafe is based at St Martin’s House.
7. Enhance the provision of music at services by growing the choir and funding a major overhaul of the organ.
(See the link to item 4 and the view that a re-built organ will significantly enhance the opportunities for missional and fund-raising activities in the church, which have become far more feasible since the new facilities have been created)
1. Currently the organ is not useable. Cousans Organs (Leicester) have inspected the organ and will shortly be doing work to the organ which will remove the cypher and tune the organ so it becomes playable. The cost will be a maximum of £2,500 which will be paid by Challenge 900.
Cousans Organs are providing a quotation for the complete re-building of the organ (last re-built – sadly not very well – in 1961). The cost of this will be significant and will require detailed consideration of how we might secure the funding which, of course, we may not be able to do.
The PCC does now own an electronic organ which has been purchased and donated to the PCC by a member of the congregation and this is generally considered to work well for our normal services.
2. Put together a programme to recruit new choir members.
8. Encourage visits from other community groups and organisations.
1. Having produced the “flyer” under 5.2 and circulated it to the appropriate organisations and groups, follow up with a personal contact to issue invitations to visit.
2. Devise a programme for these visits.
9. Encourage visits from Schools and provide resources for them.
1. Having completed section 5.1 produce a resource pack for schools.
2. Contact schools with information about the resource pack and invite them to visit St Mary’s.
There is a significant mission element in building relationships with schools. An example of this is our contact with Castle Mead Academy which resulted in a Christmas Service for over three hundred children from the various schools covered by the Mead Educational Trust.
3. Provide Training for volunteers in working with school children.
10. Offer our services to Leicester Royal Infirmary chaplaincy as a resource.
1. Explore with the Hospital Chaplaincy how we might move this forward.
It should be noted that timescales have not, at this stage been added to this programme. It is expected that these will be developed as part of the action detailed in the second paragraph below.
Each of the Action Points require the appointment of a member of the Congregation (or perhaps someone in the wider St Mary’s Community) to be the lead person for that area and to take day to day responsibility for moving it forward.
This is an initial programme and once a lead person has been appointed for each area, the programme will need to be developed with more detail, including funding requirements and timescales.
Overall responsibility for this programme lies with the PCC. Given the extensive nature of the proposed programme, the PCC has decided, in view of their other day to day responsibilities, to delegate the management of the programme to the Standing Committee who will report back to the PCC.
Growing the congregation.
Whilst it is intended that the programme as set out in Section 3 will enable us to grow the congregation it is accepted that this will not, in itself, be sufficient and the Parish should build into this plan scope for further action.
Although it is not our wish that anything in the document should take us away from our stance as a Catholic parish whose worshipping life is centred on the Eucharist, this is an opportune moment to reflect and review the spiritual life of the Parish.
Two points of action are planned over the coming months (the timescale is largely dependant on the fight against COVID 19)
• Review with our Priestly colleagues the scope and form of the services at St Mary’s. Does the current pattern of worship meet the requirements of the current congregation and how do we “future proof” for a growing congregation that may well be looking for a different model of worship?
• Examine what actions we need to take as a worshiping community to build on our spiritual life as a group and grow us individuals to be a mission presence in the City
Building a sound financial base.
As documented in Quo Vadis the parish finances have taken a hit over the last few years and whilst some initial steps have been taken to stabilise them much more is required. With the current size of the congregation, it is unlikely that their contributions can fund the day-to-day cost of running the building.
Prior to the current pandemic we had started to generate income from the building in the form of hire fees and donations. Donations from visitors also added to our income.
It is the view of the PCC that it is possible to grow that income from the use of the church, which together with contributions from the congregation, to a level that will not only meet the day-to-day funding of the parish (including the payment annually of a sensible parish contribution to the diocese) but allow us to build up reserves. It is also recognised that in the longer term our “day to day” income needs to be at a level that will fund other activities. e.g., expanding the music and choir at services.
Growing the congregation and increasing the use of the building is the key to improving our financial situation.
Alan Fletcher
Chris Phillips
Church Wardens.
March 2021.
Published Version
Appendix 1. SoundCafe Leicester
1. Executive Overview
1.1. SoundCafe Leicester (SCL) was incorporated as a charity in March 2015 and provides a safe creative space for adults who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, vulnerable, or socially isolated. Our vision has just been updated in light of the pandemic.
SoundCafe (SCL) aims to inspire those who are homeless or socially isolated by providing safe creative spaces. SCL offers opportunities for guests to access services that encourage their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. We are a diverse and inclusive community who are learning to reflect on our experiences, that through this, personal lives may be transformed and empowered.
1.2. We originally gathered together at a weekly drop-in café, inspiring our guests to explore, grow and express their artistic talents. A key aspect of our work is providing meaningful daytime activities that develop new skills and help guests believe in themselves. Since establishing a robust data capture process in 2017, over 229 guests have benefitted from our services.
1.3. SCL offers an open door for adults to explore and experience different activities, with volunteer led sessions that enable guests to:
- engage in art and crafts
- perform musically
- recite their own or others’ poetry/ prose,
- participate in listening projects which empower guests to feel heard and understood
- access information and signposting service for those needing support
- receive pastoral care and hospitality.
1.4. With Covid-19 we have revised our service delivery model and as an interim service during lockdown we have provided an activity takeaway service. SoundCafe Takeaway provides refreshment and an activity within a ‘takeaway’ bag with pastoral support and information at the collection point. The takeaway project also provides the opportunity for feedback from guests and volunteers as to how we can re-shape our service for the future, whilst meeting government guidelines.
1.5. This new service has been made possible through bids to the Leicestershire & Rutland Community Foundation and the National Lottery Covid-19 Fund.
1.6. We have throughout the pandemic actively adapted and delivered a revised model of service delivery and we have re-assessed our cost base moving forwards recognising the future challenges and therefore proposed smaller groups across three days but still providing access for up to 50 guests a week.
1.7. From January 2021 we are delivering a new model of service delivery that is focused on supporting guests but has been risk assessed in light of COVID-19 restrictions:
- Monday 13.15 – 15.00 SCL Workshop/Cafe Sessions at St. Martins House
- Tuesday 11.00 – 13.00 Football Health & Well-Being at St Margaret’s pastures
- Wednesday 15.15 – 16.00 SCL Choir at Leicester Cathedral
- The latest lockdown restrictions have pushed the start date for these activities back but in the meantime the various workshop sessions are being done remotely. While this inevitably means some of our guests are not able to take part the early indications are that the demand for, and booking of, virtual workshops is significant.
1.8. SoundCafe choir normally rehearse weekly in Leicester Cathedral and perform there and at other venues within the City. Visitors to Leicester Cathedral have been captivated by this unique ‘cathedral choir’. The choir was scheduled to return on Wednesday 20th January 2021, but this has been delayed due to the latest lockdown and the closure of the Cathedral.
1.9. Many guests attending SCL have related issues with drug/alcohol dependency, poor mental (33%) and physical health (18%) and unemployment. The project targets clients across a diverse range of ethnic, social and cultural backgrounds. SoundCafe supports those who are homeless or vulnerable by the nature of their living arrangements, and over one third of our guests are either rough sleepers or sofa surfers, the hidden homeless.