Parish Profile
Waltham St Lawrence
Parish Website www.walthamstlawrence.info
Parish Profiles – Waltham St. Lawrence & Shottesbrooke
October 2015
Contents
WALTHAM ST. LAWRENCE
PARISH PROFILE IN PICTURES ....................................................................................... 1
MISSION STATEMENT ....................................................................................................... 3
MISSION ACTION PLAN ..................................................................................................... 3
FUTURE CHALLENGES ..................................................................................................... 4
SERVICES........................................................................................................................... 5
SERVICE CALENDAR – SEPTEMBER 2015 ...................................................................... 6
ACTIVITIES ......................................................................................................................... 6
ATTENDANCE .................................................................................................................... 9
CHURCH MANAGEMENT................................................................................................. 10
CHURCH BUILDINGS ....................................................................................................... 10
LOCAL CONTEXT ............................................................................................................. 11
DEANERY PERSPECTIVE ............................................................................................. 112
SHOTTESBROOKE
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 14
The Locality ....................................................................................................................... 14
Recent History ................................................................................................................... 14
The Wider Church .............................................................................................................. 14
PARISH OF SHOTTESBROOKE ...................................................................................... 14
Vision ................................................................................................................................. 14
The Church Building .......................................................................................................... 14
Services ............................................................................................................................. 15
ASPECTS OF CHURCH LIFE ........................................................................................... 15
Other Events and Activities of the Benefice ....................................................................... 16
DEANERY PERSPECTIVE ............................................................................................. 116
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Parish Profile – Waltham St. Lawrence
October 2015
PARISH PROFILE IN PICTURES
The Church
Neville Hall
The Bell
Shurlock Row
Primary School
Parsonage
Baptism
Church Chancel – waiting for the bride
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Parish Profile – Waltham St. Lawrence
October 2015
Church – guests waiting for the bride
Lych Gate – after the wedding
3G
Messy Church
Junior Choir
Choir
Screen for All Age Service
Father Willis Organ
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Parish Profile – Waltham St. Lawrence
October 2015
MISSION STATEMENT
Our church is at the heart of a thriving lively and friendly community in a beautiful part of rural East
Berkshire. It is a place where many people and groups find a place to belong; from within our parish
and beyond, including the primary school and village organisations.
We want our church to become a place that reaches out to whole families, and where every generation
and every individual is welcomed and has a part to play, and which offers a range of worship styles.
Building on our existing relationships, we want to increase links with everyone in our local community,
for instance by promoting the use of the church for a wide range of purposes.
We want to be known for the quality of our worship, prayer, discipleship and pastoral care provided by
both the lay people and clergy. We want to be confident in sharing our faith with others, led and
equipped to face the future as a team, while developing a broader vision, taking a global view of our
Christian mission.
In our Priest-in-Charge, we seek a friendly, approachable and effective communicator of the Christian
message, who will give a high priority to pastoral care, be a compassionate listener, and become
involved with village life: visible at local events and staying in close contact with other community
leaders.
He or she will be supportive of our musical tradition and will encourage activities for children and young
people, creating an atmosphere in which they are involved and nurtured.
MISSION ACTION PLAN
Waltham St Lawrence is a prosperous rural parish, grouped round three centres:
Waltham St. Lawrence, Shurlock Row and West End. It has a significant share of retired people along
with commuters to work. There is a small thriving Junior School, though not C of E. The current priest
is a governor and takes assembly regularly. Despite the closure of the last shop there is a strong sense
of community with regular village events which are well supported.
For a variety of reasons, the church went through a bad patch over some 5-6 years, characterised by a
reduced and ageing congregation, declining giving and the loss of virtually all youth. This period
concluded with a protracted interregnum. When eventually a priest in charge was appointed in February
2013 the Archdeacon indicated that the parish ‘needs a lot of healing’ and that the appointee would
‘probably be the last priest in charge’.
Over the last couple of years there have been indications of God’s blessing in the church: growing
numbers, especially children; increased giving, allowing recovery of the parish share contribution (£10k
in 2012 to £30k in 2015) and growing financial reserves; the establishment of home groups for
deepening discipleship; and, practical improvements such as the replacement of the heating system
and the recently approved and funded installation of an audio-visual system. The relationship with the
local primary school has become very fruitful with the priest now one of the governors. Overall, the
outlook for the church is much brighter and it is now agreed that the priest in charge will be replaced
when he retires in February 2016, by a House for duty priest (the usual Sunday plus more than two
days. The PCC is prepared to offer an honorarium for extra days.
This appointment is initially for a Priest-in-Charge, pending the outcome of the Pastoral Scheme for the
linking to Shottesbrooke (see Future Challenges on page 4 and pages 13 to 16).
MISSION INITIATIVES
Children: A coordinator of our work with children was appointed in 2013. There is now a strong
emphasis on children and families. The weekly 3G(Generation) group is now well established (in old
speak mothers and toddlers but now with grandparents and other carers). A crèche and ‘Sunday Club’
now functions every Sunday. A ‘Messy Church’ was started in March 2015, meeting monthly. The
Bishop has granted permission for ‘Communion for Baptized Children’.
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Parish Profile – Waltham St. Lawrence
October 2015
Music: The church has a strong musical tradition. This has been continued with the appointment of a
new music director. The Junior Choir remains active and sings at the monthly All Age service as well as
special events, notably the annual nativity performance. The Middle Choir of 9+ year olds has recently
been re-established.
Bell ringing: The plentiful supply of bell ringers will be complemented by the recently established
‘Young Bell Ringers’.
Pastoral Care: The team, made up by church members and others, is functioning in a low key way with
some very effective interventions.
School: Things are much improved, as evidenced by a full church for the school Harvest and
Christmas services and access to school assemblies. The whole school visited the church before
Easter as part of their curriculum for Holy Week 2015.
St Lawrence Café: The very successful free breakfast, one Sunday per month, run by both church and
non-church people, continues to attract folks of all ages from the parish.
Community Involvement: Church people are actively involved in running a wide variety of events for
the village e.g. the fete, the harvest barn dance and supper, concerts (e.g. WSL Silver Band and
‘Elvis’), August afternoon teas in the churchyard, the monthly ‘Wednesday Club’ etc. An Alpha course
was started in September 2015 with the aim of involving non-church goers in discussion of Christianity.
FUTURE CHALLENGES
Children/Youth/Families: Numerous initiatives are underway which need to be followed through.
Shottesbrooke: Heads of Agreement have been agreed for the combination of Waltham St Lawrence
and Shottesbrooke. Consultation is underway which should lead to the establishment of the benefice of
Waltham St. Lawrence with Shottesbrooke during 2016.
Succession: An extension of the licence for the current priest-in-charge has been granted by the
Bishop until February 2016 and it is hoped that the succession can be achieved without another
debilitating interregnum.
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Parish Profile – Waltham St. Lawrence
October 2015
SERVICES
Every Sunday
8.45am Holy Communion
Said service from the Book of Common Prayer (BCP)
1st Sunday in the Month
10.00am All-age Service
Emphasis on the young and family participation. Junior choir normally makes a contribution. Often
includes baptism(s). Starting to use the new audio-visual system.
6.00pm Choral Evensong
From BCP. Hymns from AMNS, Psalm to Anglican chant. Canticles sung to settings (occasionally to
chants). Choir sings an anthem.
2nd & 4th Sundays in the Month
10.00am Parish Communion
Sung service from Common Worship with locally produced Service Book. Church choir attends - one of
three settings is sung for the communion responses, as well as an anthem.
3rd Sunday in Month
9.30am St Lawrence Café followed by
10.30am Parish Communion (shorter form)
From Common Worship with church choir.
5th Sunday in the Month
10.00 am Sung Matins
According to BCP with church choir. Canticles are chanted, an anthem is sung. For major festivals then
CW Communion is used or, for example a service of wholeness and healing.
Other Services
Remembrance Day Service - in church, following the recommended pattern, followed by procession to
Village War Memorial for a short service there. Waltham St Lawrence Silver Band takes part.
Sunday before Christmas - 10.00am service is replaced by a Nativity Play presented by the Sunday
Club and Junior Choir. At 6pm a candle-lit service of 6 Lessons and Carols. When Christmas Day falls
on a Monday these services are brought forward by a week.
Christmas Eve - Midnight candle-lit Holy Communion with a sung setting.
Christmas Day – 8.45am BCP Holy Communion. 10am. Family Service.
Ash Wednesday - evening sung service of Holy Communion with choir and imposition of ashes.
Maundy Thursday - evening sung service of Holy Communion with choir.
Good Friday – 10am-12am Children prepare Easter Garden; 2pm-3pm Final Hour devotional service
of meditation with hymns (no choir).
Easter Day - 8.45am BCP communion, 10.00am Parish Communion with additional festival elements in
the service.
Ascension Day - evening sung service of Holy Communion with choir.
Baptisms – About 10 baptisms per year take place during the All Age Service.
Weddings / Blessings Of Civil Marriages - About 8 per year concentrated in the summer season.
Choir attends if requested (in the majority of cases). Bell ringers also if requested.
Funerals/Memorials - About 8 per annum. Other funerals at local crematoria with no church service
also take place.
School – Annual Harvest Festival and Christmas Service for all school children and parents.
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Parish Profile – Waltham St. Lawrence
October 2015
SERVICE CALENDAR – SEPTEMBER 2015
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Parish Profile – Waltham St. Lawrence
October 2015
ACTIVITIES
Families and Children
3G - This is now more than mothers and toddlers as it involves three generations – babies, toddlers,
mums, dads, carers, grandparents…and anybody else who would like to join for coffee and cake. It
happens each Thursday from 10–11.30 and now attracts more than 50 attendees, about half children. It
ends with a Bible story for the toddlers.
Sunday Club – at the main service each Sunday there is something special for children. When it is
parish communion the children meet in the side chapel after the first hymn and return for a blessing with
their parents when they come for communion. At the All Age Service there is a crèche for those children
with agitated parents!
Junior Choir – some 15 children from ages 5 –11 meet on Thursday at 6pm during term time. They
sing at the all age service, perform a nativity play at Christmas, make an Easter garden on Good Friday
and raise funds at the May morning sale.
Middle Choir – this has recently been re-activated for 9+ years old children who practice on Thursday
at 7pm and to sing with the adult choir.
Adult Choir – Choir membership has somewhat reduced with the loss of 3 Lay-Clerks graduated from
University, hence replacements are being sourced. It is hoped that we will be able to recruit new
members to both senior and middle choirs and have the choir stalls brimming with happy people singing
their "hearts to heaven and voices raised" to quote a famous Easter hymn.
All Age Service – this is an informal ‘service of the word’ which is friendly for families with lively songs.
Baptisms – These take place during the All Age service with some 30 – 60 in the baptism party. This
swells the congregation and presents a wonderful missional opportunity.
School – the current Priest-in-Charge is a Governor of the WSL primary school which is not C of E
related. He visits the school regularly for Friday afternoon assembly and the church hosts the school
Harvest Festival and Christmas Carol Service. For the last two years the whole school has visited the
church for an experiential programme led by church members – such as: singing, bell ringing, public
speaking, craft work and a history tour.
Home Groups
Two home groups were established in 2013, meeting fortnightly they have followed a variety of studies,
including
York Courses: Glimpses of God (Lent), Rich Inheritance, Expecting Christ
Life Builders:
Meeting Jesus, Following Jesus, Peter – Learning to be like Jesus
Films:
The Way (‘The Long Way to Heaven’); Chocolat (‘Christ and the Chocolaterie’)
Daily Prayer:
Reflections for Lent
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Parish Profile – Waltham St. Lawrence
October 2015
Bells and Ringers
The ring of six, dating from 1808 were re-hung without their canons, in a steel frame in 1977. The
Sanctus bell was cast in 1681. Rung from a gallery open to the church, the bell is rung for Sunday
service, and on other occasions when requested. The few parish ringers are helped from outside to
keep the bells ringing. Practice night is on a Monday. At the present time, there are ample ringers
keeping the bells ringing in the Parish.
St Lawrence Café
Every month on the 3rd Sunday from 9.30am to 11.30am, a free breakfast is provided in the Neville Hall
opposite the church. This is an active social event organised by members of the church, with the
opportunity for performances e.g. by the junior choir, and with low-key Christian content, aiming to bring
the church and community into contact. It is staffed by volunteers, supported by sponsors from the local
community and by voluntary donations, and makes a net contribution to the running of the church.
Church Teas
On Sunday afternoons in August, the church is open for visitors, and teas are served, along with tower
tours, bookstall etc.
Parish Helpers
In addition to the PCC and Parish Representatives, there are a number of sub-committees and
specialist groups connected with the Church. In total some 120 individuals play an active part in the
activity of our Church.
Groups include:
•
Lesson Readers
•
Sides men & women
•
Church Cleaners
•
Flower Arrangers
•
Intercession leaders
•
After-Service Coffee Rota
...as well as other ad hoc groups brought together for special projects. Individuals also look after The
Lych Gate (the church and parish magazine), the website, the electoral roll, child safety, fund raising
and act as custodian of records.
Parish (Pastoral Care) Representatives
A network of Parish Representatives has been active in the past and recently re-launched. These
representatives welcome newcomers to the Parish, distribute information on developments and Church
activities, and pass on suggestions concerning the administration of and worship in the Church. Their
names are publicised so that parishioners can contact them if any assistance is needed. When
functioning effectively, this group is a very important communication link to people living in the Parish.
WSL Churches Trust
We are very fortunate in having the invaluable support of an independent charity, the Waltham St
Lawrence Churches Trust which is ready to respond to requests for help in major structural
maintenance. During l992, the Trust was set up by three Parishioners. The long term aim is to provide
an endowment fund to support the PCC with the maintenance of the buildings and work of the Parish
Church .
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Parish Profile – Waltham St. Lawrence
October 2015
ATTENDANCE
These two charts gives an overview of attendance.
Attendance has increased
significantly during 2013 and 2014,
especially families and children
Total attendance for 2014 was 6,475
(2013 – 4,513) which is a substantial
increase of 43%.
This includes 1,280 for the 3G group
which commenced in February 2014.
This pie chart illustrates numbers at
the wide range of services, including
special services such as school
harvest and Christmas services.
Messy church started in March 2015.
Sp cial*
E nson
BC
9%
60%
Special Services
Special services attract large total numbers, for example in 2014: Christmas Carol Service - 283A; 23C;
Remembrance Day - 137A, 42C; School Harvest Festival - 153A, 134C; School Carol Service - 140A,
125C; All Age Service with two baptism parties - 94A, 36C; Christmas Day All Age Service – 177A, 26C
Usual Sunday
74 Adults, 8 Children
‘October Returns’
The October 2014 figures reported to the Diocese were as follows:
Adults
No. of
Services
Church
Sunday 5th October
3
105
Weekdays 6 – 11
1
th
th
th
Sunday 12 October
2
th
Weekdays 13 – 18
1
Sunday 19 October
2
th
th
Children and young people
F/Exp
School
Church
42
154
2
Weekdays 27th – 1st
1
19
134
4
27
47
21
6
21
Sunday 26th October
School
26
25
Weekdays 20th – 25th
F/Exp
39
16
7
26
28
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Parish Profile – Waltham St. Lawrence
October 2015
CHURCH MANAGEMENT
Parochial Church Council
The PCC meets 6 times a year and currently has 4 ex-officio members (Wardens and Deanery Synod
Members) and 9 elected members who represent the church community. In addition, people
responsible for activities associated with the church have been co-opted onto the PCC or invited for
specific meetings to report on their work. There are 3 sub-committees functioning at the moment:
Worship, Finance, and Fabric. Others have been formed for specific purposes as the need has arisen.
The PCC hosts a Harvest Supper or Lunch each year and for most of the past 10 years has organised
a Fete in June in collaboration with Parish Council and School, which is its major fundraising event.
There are 64 people on the Electoral Roll with a significant number living outside the Parish.
Finance
The financial position of the church is sound: The budget for 2015 is some £70,000. Reserves at the
end of Q2 2015 amounted to some £80,000.
CHURCH BUILDINGS
The Parish Church Of Waltham St Lawrence
Waltham St Lawrence has had its own place of worship since Roman times, when a temple was
erected half a mile north-west of the present church at Weycock Hill.
The present church dates from the time of William the Conqueror, when it was first mentioned in a
charter in 1086 by which Gaufridi de Mandeville granted it to Hurley Manor. Since then it has been
extended and maintained by its patrons and parishioners and now displays an interesting mix of
architectural styles, the earliest being the 11th century, round arches on either side of the main aisle
and, most characteristic and charming, the 14th century tower base, side aisles and chancel, and the
16th century upper tower and east windows.
At the base of the wall on the right hand side of the main entrance door are several interesting marks
scratched in to the masonry. Some think they are masons' marks but it is popularly supposed that they
are records of vows made by crusaders before setting off for the Holy Land.
Extracts from the register tell us that the tenor and treble bells together with the second bell were
broken in 1659 and that these together with the Sacring bell were recast into five bells. The current six
bells are rung every week by a dedicated group of bell ringers
Fabric Maintenance and Restoration
During the incumbency of Rev E J Parker the church was restored in 1847. He gave the stained glass
for the altar window and had the main entrance porch built as a thanks offering for a good harvest
which followed several lean years. More recently extensive repairs to the tower, bells and ringing
platform were carried out during the 1970s and the Lady Chapel glass screen was installed in the
1980s.
The last decade has seen a vast amount of remedial work carried out including refurbishment of the
roof and external walls and windows, replacing rotten timbers in the floor, refurnishing the area under
the tower and the choir vestry (including installation of new kitchen facilities) and complete renewal of
the lighting. Work has since been done including a rebuild of the organ, and the overall condition of the
church is now sound and presents a very pleasing appearance.
In 2014 the boiler for the heating system was replaced and there is an ongoing active programme of
maintenance, including repair of the churchyard wall.
The PCC and Church Wardens take responsibility for the maintenance and up-keep of the Church
Fabric.
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Parish Profile – Waltham St. Lawrence
October 2015
LOCAL CONTEXT
The parish is based in a rural setting in East Berkshire, south of the A4 trunk Road and North of the M4,
between Maidenhead and Reading. The parish is bordered by the parishes of Twyford and Hurst in the
West and White Waltham and Maidenhead in the East.
Two main villages make up the Parish - Waltham St Lawrence and Shurlock Row. In between there is
the rural residential area of West End, where the primary school is located and other smaller residential
areas of Beenhams Heath and Billingbear.
The total population of the parish is around 1000 adults (18+) with an all ages estimate of 1,500, with 64
on the church electoral roll. There are approximately 500 houses in the Parish.
Most Parishioners own their own homes with very little council or rented property. The average family
falls into the “comfortably placed” bracket, but there remain people in need in the parish who are helped
by the WSL Charities (see later). The main occupations are in local towns such as Reading or Bracknell
although a significant number also commute to London.
The major rail stations are at Twyford (4 miles) and Maidenhead (6 miles) for London Paddington and
the West, Wokingham (6 miles) and Bracknell (7 miles) for London Waterloo and Gatwick. Shopping
towns are typically Maidenhead, Twyford, Wokingham, Henley, Bracknell and Windsor. There is a local
bus service to Maidenhead and Bracknell.
There are theatres in Sonning, Henley and Windsor. The Henley Festival is a well known annual event
which follows the Regatta week.
The 14th century Bell Inn, adjacent to the Parish Church, belongs to a 400 year old Charitable Trust
known as the Waltham St. Lawrence Charities (see below), and provides its major income.
The Neville Hall is the Village Hall in Waltham St. Lawrence and serves as a community focal point
where many groups meet. The Waltham St. Lawrence Silver Band meet there and has close
connections with our Church and its functions, providing music for services such as Harvest and
Remembrance. For the older members of the community, a Wednesday Club meets on the first
Wednesday of the month.
WSL Charities
The village is most fortunate in having legacies left in centuries past in trust to provide for care of the
needy, those in poor health and to assist with education. These trusts are administered by the Waltham
St Lawrence Charities. The vicar, if resident in the Parish, is an ex-officio trustee of the charities.
WSL Parish Council
The Council has 7 members. The church confers with the Council and its Clerk on many local and
social issues, e.g. events in the Parish, housing issues, the burial ground.
Education
The Parish has a flourishing County Primary School of approximately 125 in West End, Waltham St
Lawrence, and Foxley School, a PNEU School in Shurlock Row. The Primary School holds its own
Harvest Festival and Christmas services in the Parish Church. Most village children attend secondary
education in Wargrave or Maidenhead or at private schools. A place is often held for the priest on the
Primary school's Board of Governors.
Health Care
There are nearby surgeries in Twyford and Wargrave. The Wargrave Medical Practice also holds
surgeries twice a week at the Neville Hall and prescriptions from the surgery can be delivered back to
the Neville Hall in Waltham St Lawrence for collection. The practice can be a source of information of
need or distress to our Charities Trust. The main local hospital is Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading.
No old people's home exists within the Parish.
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Parish Profile – Waltham St. Lawrence
October 2015
Charities
Regular support is given to the British Legion Poppy Appeal as well as the Berkshire Churches Trust
through RIDE and STRIDE. The music concerts, the August Church Teas and St. Lawrence Café assist
the church and a variety of other charities.
The Lych Gate - Parish Magazine
A monthly magazine was first started at the end of the nineteenth century and has continued
uninterrupted since then. For the last few years it has been named "The Lych Gate" as a joint venture
with the Parish Council, and is delivered free to every house in the parish, and to everyone on the
church electoral roll.
The prime purpose of the magazine has been dissemination of village and church news, and it includes
a "Letter from the Priest-in-Charge", details of services for the month, record of Baptisms, Marriages
and Funerals and other church activities. It also includes general parish and local news.
The magazine and other local content is available at http://www.walthamstlawrence.info.
DEANERY PERSPECTIVE
The Parishes of Waltham St Lawrence and Shottesbrooke are in the Deanery of Maidenhead and
Windsor, one of 6 deaneries in the Reading episcopal area. Other parishes in the deanery can be seen
at http://oxford.anglican.org/who-we-are/reading/deaneries/maidenhead-and-windsor/
The Parish of Waltham St Lawrence is one of the village-based parishes in the deanery and one that
has seen an encouraging revival in recent years enabling it to start to regain its rightful place in the life
of the deanery. Although geographically at one end of the deanery, it has always supported deanery
activities and the deanery has recognised for some years that the parish has an important contribution
to make to mission both within the village and wider.
The Deanery Plan is supportive of the formation of such a benefice subject to the formal consultation,
and sees this as a potential way of increasing the sustainability of both parishes.
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Parish Profile – Shottesbrooke
October 2015
St John the Baptist, Shottesbrooke
Parish Profile
Page 13
Parish Profile – Shottesbrooke
October 2015
INTRODUCTION
The Locality
The Parish of Shottesbrooke occupies a rural setting in East Berkshire between Maidenhead and
Reading, and adjoins the parish of Waltham St Lawrence on its western boundary and the parish of
White Waltham on its eastern boundary. The A4 trunk road runs to the north of the parish; the M4 and
the Great Western main railway line both run through it. There are railway stations at Maidenhead and
Twyford, and a two-hourly bus service links the parish with Maidenhead and Bracknell.
The parish has a small, scattered population currently of about 150, centred on Shottesbrooke Park,
where the church is situated.
Recent History
The parish of Shottesbrooke, though a separate parish, has been part of a united benefice with the
parish of White Waltham since 1740. In response to a deanery decision that the united benefice was
not sustainable into the future on its own, White Waltham parish decided its future lay best in combining
with the parish of St Andrew and St Mary Magdalene in the middle of Maidenhead.
In response to that decision the parish of Shottesbrooke took the view that in the longer term its future
lay better with being linked to the more rural parish of Waltham St Lawrence. The legal process for
effecting these changes is now in train: the statutorily defined interested parties have been consulted
and the text of a draft scheme has been approved by the Archdeaconry Mission and Pastoral
Committee (the ‘AMPC’) for submission to the Bishop, subject only to a Boundary Commission acting
on behalf of the AMPC determining the exact details of the new boundary between the ecclesiastical
parishes of Shottesbrooke and White Waltham. The Commission is expected to report by the end of
September 2015.
This Parish Profile has been prepared in the context of the recruitment of a new priest-in-charge for
Waltham St Lawrence and on the assumption that, at the time when he or she takes up that post, the
combination of the parishes of Shottesbrooke and Waltham St Lawrence will have taken effect and
such person will therefore also be priest-in-charge of Shottesbrooke.
The Wider Church
The parish is part of the Deanery of Maidenhead and Windsor. The Deanery is part of the
Archdeaconry of Berkshire and the Reading Episcopal Area of the Diocese of Oxford. There are no
churches of other denominations within the parish.
PARISH OF SHOTTESBROOKE
Vision
To be a community of love and worship, growing in maturity towards Christ; and to share our faith in the
crucified and risen Christ.
The Church Building
The parish church of Shottesbrooke (St John the Baptist) is cruciform, with two transepts, a tower and a
tall stone spire. Built in 1337, it has remained virtually unaltered since, and is listed Grade 1.
There are ten stalls in the chancel, and pews for 32 in the nave. By bringing in chairs a congregation
of 120 can be accommodated. The church has a Walker organ of 1904.
Recent repairs have been carried out to the stonework of one of the buttresses on the north side of the
chancel and some minor work has also recently been done on the bells. The Quinquennial Survey
carried out in 2015 reported no major items requiring attention.
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Parish Profile – Shottesbrooke
October 2015
Services
Services are currently usually held at 9.30 a.m. each Sunday, except when there is a united service
with White Waltham or during August (when, by local tradition, there are no services). All services at
Shottesbrooke currently follow the Book of Common Prayer.
1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays ..... Morning Prayer
2nd and 4th Sundays ........... Holy Communion
There is an evening service instead of a morning service twice a year – Evensong for Harvest Festival
and a traditional Carol Service at Christmas.
There are currently united services with White Waltham on two Sundays in the year, once in the spring,
before the Annual Meeting, and once in the autumn for the annual Thanksgiving (stewardship) service.
On Remembrance Sunday there is no separate service at Shottesbrooke, but a joint Remembrance
Service at White Waltham at 10.45 a.m.
It is recognised that, should the Pastoral Scheme come in to effect, the service pattern will need to
alter.
There are currently 11 regular attenders, though some of these are often away. There is a regular
organist, but no choir. Members of the congregation are involved in lesson reading, setting up
services, bell ringing and the church fete, held jointly with White Waltham each year, usually now on the
White Waltham cricket pitch though previously in Shottesbrooke Park.
There are very few baptisms or weddings and only a small number of funerals.
open, but there is little room left.
The churchyard is still
ASPECTS OF CHURCH LIFE
PCC and Electoral Roll
The two parishes of Shottesbrooke and White Waltham were made a united benefice in the 18th
century. Though there are technically two PCCs they comprise the same people and meet at the same
time. There are separate churchwardens, treasurers and accounts. Other posts are held jointly.
There are 19 members of each PCC. Two members are members of the Deanery Synod. Each PCC
meets six times a year, with the Annual Parochial Church Meeting in March/April.
There is currently a single electoral roll covering both parishes. The number reported at the 2015
APCM as being on the roll was 78.
Upon the Pastoral Scheme being made for the separation of Shottesbrooke from White Waltham and
its combination with Waltham St Lawrence, the current combined electoral roll will be divided, so that
the Shottesbrooke electoral roll will consist of all those on the then current combined roll who are either
resident in the parish of Shottesbrooke or have habitually attended worship at Shottesbrooke. At the
same time and as a result of the electoral roll change the Shottesbrooke PCC will consist of those
members of the then current PCC who are on the new Shottesbrooke electoral roll.
Finance
For 2014 (the most recent year available):
Total Income ................. £ 23,382
Total Expenditure .......... £ 22,701
Surplus for the year....... £
681
Reserves ....................... £ 16,906
A local charitable trust has agreed to pay to Shottesbrooke PCC not less than £12,000 per annum for at
least five years from when the combination of Shottesbrooke and Waltham St Lawrence takes effect,
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Parish Profile – Shottesbrooke
October 2015
provided that at least one service a month is held at Shottesbrooke. In addition, there are two trusts
administered by the diocese which together provide about £2,300 per annum for Shottesbrooke.
The Bells and Ringers
Shottesbrooke church has six bells, in good working order. There is a band of ringers that ensures that
the bells are rung every Sunday and on special festivals.
Summer Concerts
Two concerts were held in the church last year. One was entitled ‘Music for a Midsummer’s Evening’,
with music provided by Berkshire Baroque and Waltham Madrigals and flower displays arranged by the
St Mary’s Flower Guild. For the other concert the music was provided by the Lambrook Singers. Both
concerts raised funds for the church.
Other Events and Activities of the Benefice
Construction has started on a new building in the churchyard of White Waltham church for church and
community activities (‘Project Rainbow’). This was preceded by a long period of fundraising.
Children’s and Young People’s Groups meet on Sunday mornings in the Chapel Room of White
Waltham church. Various community events have been organised to help build community in
Woodlands Park, a housing estate in White Waltham parish. Various courses such as ‘Christianity
Explored’ are run; there are prayer meetings during Lent and other social and fundraising activities
during the year.
These are not described in detail as they have either had White Waltham parish as their focus (e.g.
Project Rainbow and Woodlands Park outreach) or have been organised by members of the White
Waltham congregation, and would not in any formal sense have a continuing relevance for
Shottesbrooke following its separation from White Waltham.
DEANERY PERSPECTIVE
The Parishes of Waltham St Lawrence and Shottesbrooke are in the Deanery of Maidenhead and
Windsor, one of 6 deaneries in the Reading episcopal area. Other parishes in the deanery can be seen
at http://oxford.anglican.org/who-we-are/reading/deaneries/maidenhead-and-windsor/
The parish of Shottesbrooke has a small but faithful congregation who see their future with Waltham St
Lawrence rather than in their current benefice with White Waltham.
The Deanery Plan is supportive of the formation of such a benefice subject to the formal consultation,
and sees this as a potential way of increasing the sustainability of both parishes.
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