Vicar’s report 2024-2025
This has been a year with plenty of activity at Whitley Chapel and some encouragement.
We celebrated 7 weddings in Church. This was good news, all the more so as at least 3 of these couples have their homes in Hexhamshire. On the other hand, there was only one baptism. This may represent a reluctance/ lack of interest on the part of parents. It may also be a sign that we are at a low point in the population cycle in this parish. At the moment there are 4 weddings scheduled for this year, and more next year. The weddings have brought us into contact with musical talent outside the parish, and in particular Sarah Robinson, whom I encouraged to use our church for rehearsals of her choir ‘Concordia’. They in turn provided music for a most beautiful carol service last Christmas. These are links we should look to develop: we also had John Roper’s choir Antiphon providing us with a very special service for Pentecost, and St. Mary’s choir and friends bringing us a lovely celebration of Candlemas.
These celebrations were facilitated by Revd. Chris Simmons who, together with his wife Dorothy, are marvellous friends to us at Whitley Chapel. I owe him a particular debt for leading Sunday services when I am away, and encouraging me to take time off. In addition, we have just been enriched by the second of the Lent study courses he has put together, a most interesting journey through the lesser-known pastoral epistles towards the end of the New Testament. Again, these have been supported by up to 10 people every week, and kindly hosted at her home by Barbara Parker.
After a year and more of serious turbulence, the school is in a much better place. We have a capable headteacher in the shape of Mrs Angela Hayward, who was already headteacher at Slaley. The school was inspected by OFSTED in the Autumn; their report is truly heartwarming in all the positive ways in which they describe our school. I would like to express my thanks to the school governors for their hard work, determination and commitment during an extremely difficult time. Looking ahead it is clear that shared headship and close working with Slaley (and perhaps other schools) is the way, and we are exploring a federation of the schools, with the support of the diocese and the local authority. One notable event at the school was the installation of a new sewage treatment plant last summer. This has been a big project; the Parish Hall also uses the plant, as do the School House and the old school. The cost has come to £180 000, of which the school, being voluntary-aided is responsible for 10%. We should not lose sight of the fact that this project represents 25% of the funds available to the diocese for such capital projects for the year in question. For me this represents evidence of the Church’s commitment to our school. On the other hand, lovely as our school is, we have falling rolls, and need to use all our energies to attract new pupils.
I am particularly grateful to Ruth Marlee for the energy and vision with which she promoted last summer’s Garden Trail. The level of support, not just from those who generously opened their lovely gardens, but from so many who helped on the day, providing more or less all-day refreshments, was most encouraging. I am particularly grateful to members of our splendid WI for their support. The money generated, over £3500, is vital for the life of the Church. It was great to see people meeting up with old friends and acquaintances, and to have conversations with strangers and visitors. In additions, God was kind to us: despite a dismal weather forecast the sun shone in the morning, and rain did not arrive until around 4 p.m. Phew! Thank you, Lord!
I am grateful to Ruth for the many other ways in which she helps our Church to thrive: as our Hon. Sec, recording our meetings, and getting people to go on our rotas. Our Church could not exist without the good will and support of the local population and the time and commitment of many volunteers. I am grateful to those who keep our church clean all the year round, to those who welcome the congregation on Sundays and those who read in Church and lead prayers. Thank you also to those who decorate the Church with flowers and help us to celebrate the seasons of the year.
We are fortunate in having musicians to provide us with real music almost every Sunday. Not only does our amazing Shirley Nixon still play, supported by Rachael Nixon, but we have Jane Wrighton and Dorothy Simmons who cheerfully provide us with beautiful melodies, and Paul Berry, who hopes to play here once a month.
I am grateful for the diligence of our churchwarden Jenny, though I know well that it is not fair to load so much on to her, and that we need another Churchwarden.
I want to say ‘Thank you’ to Claire and David, who look after our finances, and also to Gillian, Tony, Hilary and Barbara, trustees of the Burial Ground Trust.
We should not take any of these for granted, and I am thankful.
My retirement as vicar is scheduled for 31st July 2026. Between now and then we need to find our new home, get rid of 30 years of accumulated stuff, or sort it out, and I need to make sure that other people can make sense of my records of what is happening at Whitley Chapel.
It has been made clear to us by the Archdeacon that I will not be replaced by a resident priest, but that there will be a vicar of Whitley Chapel. Carole and I do not intend moving far away; it is possible I will be able to continue my ministry as Chaplain to the hospitals. It is my hope that it will be possible for me provide some support and service to the Church and that this may even include Hexhamshire. It is particularly important that a relationship between the school and St. Helen’s should be nurtured and maintained. It is my hope that some of the things which are enjoyed at Whitley Chapel, like the celebrations on Good Friday and on Christmas Eve involving children, should continue to be part of the life of this Church.