1. Membership
The method of appointment of members of the Parochial Church Council (PCC) is set
out in the Church Representation Rules. All eligible church attendees are encouraged
to register on the Electoral Roll and to stand for election to the PCC.
The following shows the membership of the PCC from 1st January 2013 until the date
this report was approved 27 February 2014. The names of members who joined or left
during that period are annotated accordingly.
Ex officio members
Rector
Churchwardens
Revd Tony Sophianou
Angela Hudson
Barbara Perry
Deanery Synod Representatives
Philip Parkin and John Collins
Reader Emerita
Betty Brockman
Elected members
Clare Davis
Ray Ekins
Bill Erskine
Carole Hall
Robert Heaton
Betty Holden
Robert Paskell
Therese Paskell
Philip Radcliffe
June Spencer
Wendy Taylor
with effect from 28 April 2013
co-opted from 28 April 2013
co-opted from 28 April 2013
with effect from 28 April 2013
2. Aims & Organisation
The mission statement of St Mary’s Church states that our purpose is ‘to worship and
serve the Lord’. The PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent in
promoting the ecclesiastical parish in the whole mission of the church – pastoral,
evangelistic, social and ecumenical.
The PCC operates through the following
committees, which meet between full meetings of the PCC.
Standing Committee
This is the only committee required by law. It has power to transact the business of
the PCC between its meetings, subject to any directions given by the PCC.
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Mission & Evangelism Committee
This deals with matters relating to the ministry of the local church to the community
and the world, including ecumenical links, evangelism and the support of mission and
relief agencies.
Church Building & Grounds Committee
This assists the churchwardens in executing their responsibility for the maintenance of
the fabric and plant of St Mary’s Church, and also for the maintenance of both St
Mary’s and Cadeby churchyards.
Church Roof Committee
This deals with all matters relating to the current repairs to St Mary’s Church roof.
Church Hall & Stable Committee
This has responsibility for the maintenance of the fabric and plant of the hall and the
Stable.
3. Electoral Roll Officer
The Electoral Roll, as of 31 December 2013, stood at 172 members.
4. Churchwardens
This year we have had the last phase of the roof repairs completed, together with a
new lighting system, monument repairs and re-painting of walls. We worshipped in the
Church Hall for a few weeks but we knew that the end was in sight and although some
weddings and Baptisms were held in church and were surrounded by scaffolding inside
and out everyone was understanding and rose to the challenge. Some very tasteful
white material was draped over the inside scaffolding for a wedding and helped to
create a romantic setting!
Thanks must go to Bridgettes, the builders, for their sympathetic and sensitive work in
our church – they now know the building very well after their years of caring for it.
The Quinquennial Report by the Church Architect has been undertaken and there is
nothing urgent to do but we may have fairly major works to do on the tower in 2-3
years time. In every other area it is a case of observing and noting things that are
fairly simple to remedy.
We shall be turning our energies towards the Stable renovation during 2014 to make it
a usable, warm and friendly building that can be used by the Church and community.
Perhaps our Rector, Tony got wind of this extra work? Sadly, he has given us his
intention to retire in June and we shall be sorry to say goodbye to him and Pauline. We
thank him for his dedicated work in the Parish and give them both our best wishes for
a happy and healthy retirement.
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Finally, the Churchwardens would like to thank all those who support them in their
tasks – the Deputy Churchwardens, the PCC and those who draw up rotas and do
countless odd jobs willingly – it is much appreciated.
Barbara Perry
Angela Hudson
5. Secretary
Taking over the role of secretary from Ean Taylor in 2013 has been quite a challenge
and I thank everyone for their support and guidance during the last 12 months. The
PCC held seven meetings during the year with an average attendance of 71%. Reports
from committees and other related groups and individuals appear below.
Carole Hall
6. Mission and Evangelism Committee 2013 Annual Report
In 2013 the nominated charities supported by St Mary’s were Church Urban Fund,
Open Doors, FEBA and Firefly. This maintained the practice of supporting local,
national & international charities.
Despite the closure of St Edmund’s church, outreach in East Sprotbrough has
continued; the lunches at the Newton pub are increasingly well supported with many
non-church people attending, which is excellent.
In June, the organisers of the Scout Fun Day very generously offered ‘Churches
Together in Sprotbrough’ the use of a marquee at the New Lane sports field again.
This was a great opportunity for the church to be seen & involved with the community,
but unfortunately volunteers to man St Mary’s stall were in extremely short supply.
This was extremely disappointing, but fortunately the weather was rather better than
last year and the tent and the St Mary’s stall had many visitors – many thanks to the
Scouts organising committee.
Theresé Paskell has started developing a Dementia Friendly Community project.
Initially this project is to liaise with the various organisations giving support in
Sprotbrough to sufferers & their carer’s in order to co-ordinate & signpost what help
is available.
Irene Heaton is continuing her training as a Pastoral Worker – please keep her in your
prayers.
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The committee was extremely sorry to hear of the Rector’s decision to retire in 2014.
Tony has helped us to develop our thinking on Mission & Evangelism in the relatively
short time he has been with us. We will be very sad to see Tony & Pauline go, they will
be very much missed.
Robert Heaton
7. Church Building and Grounds Committee
No report
8. Church roof Committee
No report
9. Church Hall & Stable
The ceiling mounted projector and screen have been installed.
Plans for a hall extension for the storage of tables and chairs are postponed in favour
of the Stable renovation.
Floor polishing is done most weeks voluntarily with thanks to Barry Noble.
Entrance to the car park has been widened and the damaged gatepost replaced.
Bookings are very good and we get excellent comments about the hall.
Thanks to Ray Ekins and Derek Newell for help with maintenance problems.
Bill & Sue Erskine
10. Other Committees, Groups and Representatives
10.1. Adwick-le-Street Deanery Synod
Synod member for 2013 were Revd Tony Sophianou, Mr J Collins & Mr P Parkin.
Three meetings were held during the year.
7 February 2013 St Philip & St James,Bentley
 Area Dean gave a brief update on the Deanery Conversation and asked all
Deanery PCC’s to adopt the Deanery Plan.
 Finance report by Victor Hext.
 Diocesan/General Synod Reports – main items were the new Archbishop of
Canterbury, Women Bishops, the Archbishop’s address and vacancies in parishes.
 Area Dean reported on ‘Focus’ and said that a ‘food-bank’ and other action was
being taken.
19 June 2013 St Peter’s Askern
 Mrs Jenny Brick was introduced as the new secretary.
 Deanery Plan – further discussion was necessary.
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Kate Plant, Director of Faith & Justice, gave a report on their current project
‘Sustainable Livelihoods’ – main objectives were to gather evidence and raise
awareness, strengthen relationships, develop local response and inform
policymaking.
8 October 2013 St Mary’s Campsall
 Area Dean outlined the work of Soul Space.
 The Deanery Plan was discussed and Synod agreed to refer it back to the
Deanery Mission and Pastoral Committee for further work.
 Canon Geoffrey Harbord reported on the General Synod – main items being
women in the episcopate and the protection and safeguarding of children and
young people.
 Victor Hext gave the finance report and said no contributions from parishes
would be asked for in the current year.
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John Collins
10.2. Sprotbrough Bell Ringers
The Bell Ringing Team have continued to ring for morning service every Sunday during
2013, with a practice on Tuesday evening. In addition the band was able to meet all
requests to ring at weddings during the year. The number of regular band members
available to ring on Sundays was the best in recent years, and the band won the award
for the highest attendance (number of bells rung) at any of the churches in Doncaster
for 2013. Attendance at practice night has also improved with a number of regular
visiting ringers attending.
In November 2012 we had a maintenance inspection of the bells by Taylor’s foundry,
and some remedial work was identified as needing to be carried out. In total there are
three areas that require work and this has now all been approved via a faculty request.
The immediate priority is to carry out work to the bell ‘clappers’, and this is scheduled
to be done in February 2014, with the costs met by the bell ringers funds. More
extensive work will be required in the next couple of years though there will be a need
to raise sufficient funds to finance this.
Steve Taylor
10.3. Church & Community in Sprotbrough
We continue to produce the magazine month by month and trust that it fulfills a need
within the community. We try to keep up to date with what is happening in
Sprotbrough as we give publicity to as many of the activities that people let me know
about. We are very dependant upon what people tell us and welcome any articles and
information that is given. There are many people involved in producing this magazine,
those who write articles, the editing group who meet before each edition to discuss the
content, the planning of the format, Monks printers who do the typesetting and
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printing. Jan and Ian Wild who collect the copies each month and then take them to
the distributors who then deliver them to the individual houses, finally to those of you
who read it! To all of these people a very sincere word of thanks. The price to
customers has remained the same for many years thanks to those who advertise on its
pages and I know of many people who refer to it if they need something doing within
the house, although we take no responsibility for any claims made.
Any constructive comments and suggestions as to how we could improve the publication
would be welcomed.
Betty Brockman
10.4. Churches Together in Sprotbrough
Representatives from six local churches serve on the Committee of this organisation,
at which the parish is ably represented.
Following our traditional pattern, fourteen joint services were mounted in 2013, and a
number of activities (such as Open the Book, Community Lunches, Chart Room 4
Thursday, Carols on the Green) continued.
Seven special activities were also arranged. Of these events four are particularly
worthy of note:
 The Lent activity during which different approaches to the passion of Christ
were discussed.
 After the AGM the Revd Stephen Gardner gave a stimulating address entitled
The Church – Alive and Kicking
 A number of church activities were displayed in a mainly church tent at the
Scouts’ Fun Day
 Christmas and Easter displays were mounted in the Sprotbrough Community
Library
The Committee discussed and progressed the following issues:
 The effective welcoming of newcomers to the area
 Dementia friendly communities/churches
 An holistic approach to mission and community development
Victor Hext
10.5. Funds In Fellowship
2013 saw the ‘last push’ of fundraising for the church roof and started off with our
January coffee morning – a small affair but enjoyed by those who attended. We
decided to repeat the exercise in May and had a better response. May is also Village
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Quiz month – a popular and highly competitive evening won this year by the Burley
family – who will beat them in 2014?
In June another 60’s Night was organised by popular demand – the music and the pie
and pea supper went down very well.
July saw the return of the Sprotbrough Garden Trail – a lovely variety of gardens were
on show; refreshments and lunches in the Church Hall were available and the weather
was kind to us!
High Melton’s Stables Restaurant was the venue in September where, as usual, the food
was excellent and we enjoyed lunch with friends in a very good atmosphere.
The year always ends with a flourish – our Christmas Fayre – held in November – a
village event that is well supported and enjoyed. This is an event for all the family and
an annual success.
Thank you to everyone who organised or attended these fund raising events for the
Roof Fund. We are now moving on to the Stables renovation and 2014’s events will go
towards this good cause. If you have any ideas for fundraising Barbara Perry would
love to hear from you.
Barbara Perry
10.6. MOTHERS’ UNION
Branch Co-ordinator: Helen Harwood
Secretary: Andrea Offord
Treasurer: Wendy Taylor
2013 was once again a busy, interesting and enjoyable year for our Mothers’ Union. We
enjoyed many deanery and diocesan events, sharing fellowship with members from
Adwick, Skellow and Askern Mothers’ Unions. We attended diocesan events including
the Heritage Day at Sheffield Cathedral, Bishop’s Garden Party and the Mary Sumner
Day service at Doncaster Minster. We continue to help staff the crèche at Moorlands
Prison, a service greatly appreciated by families.
Our speakers this year were inspirational, interesting and informative. We hosted a
coffee afternoon raising £346 for Mothers’ Union overseas. Our summer BBQ and
Christmas Celebrations were enjoyed by everyone, sharing food, fellowship and
laughter.
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Our theme for 2013 was ‘The Seeds we Sow’ and we pray those seeds will be nurtured
and flourish to encourage more people to become members of our Worldwide
Organisation. Please come along to one of our meetings, everyone is welcome.
Helen Harwood
Branch Co-ordinator
10.7. Overseas Link – Khasoko
Very little information was received from Margaret Nawade and Hesbon Kadima during
2013. Hesbon, who works for a Feed the Children charity near Nairobi, did let us know
in February that the £500 sent out from St Mary’s had been duly received into
SHACOBO accounts, of which 50,000 KES (Kenyon Shillings – about £400) had been
initially allocated to Margaret for providing help to AIDS orphans and their caring
families. Margaret did apparently try to provide feedback to us in November but
because either the inefficiency or dishonesty of the operator at the cybercafé in
Bungoma, the information was not received by us – only a garbled message.
The most up-to-date information has been provided by Bella Namango, daughter of the
late Bishop Isaac Namango who had first initiated the link with Khasoko on a visit to
the UK in 1984. Bella based in Nairobi now works for the British Council as the
Information Policy Adviser for the Sub Sahara Africa region and travels extensively,
but she still retains family links with Khasoko. On a visit there in December she
discovered that Hesbon had suffered a severe stroke sometime in the first half of
2013 and was recovering only very slowly which explains why we had not heard from
him. Also, the vicar of Khasoko, the Revd.Daniel Olando, with whom Victor Hext had
tried to maintain a correspondence, had lost his wife, Beatrice, who had been suffering
from cancer since 2007, just before Christmas. Beatrice had worked at the Special
School in Khasoko, and supported the work of her husband, as well as being a leading
light in the Mother’s Union. Margaret Nawade herself has had lots of commitments
during the last year both with the church, pastoral work in the community, and with her
own family, to such an extent she appears to have become overwhelmed with it all.
Bella Namango sends her sincere greetings to the Christian family of St Mary’s,
Sprotbrough.
Mary Parkin
10.8. St. Mary’s Children Society Support Group
This Group, like the Children’s Society as a whole, wants to support the many vulnerable
children in England.
To do that the society needs to raise funds, and we all need to become aware of the
issues involved.
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Raising Funds
Altogether we raised£6160 in 2013, and we would like to thank all those who have
supported the events we have mounted.
The year started with a Beetle Drive geared towards children’s participation. Both the
second lunch party in the Rectory Gardens in July, and the regular Wine and Wisdom
were well supported, and teams of volunteers participated in two supermarket
collections.
We are grateful to those who delivered and called for envelopes in the Spring house to
house event called Collection for Children, and to everyone who contributed towards
the substantial total of £1367.10.
Thanks too to all those who put money throughout the year in their house boxes, raising
£1616. The annual Box Opening was enriched by a display of paintings from Copley
Junior School. Christingle collections were made at that school and at Orchard Infants
and a Richmond Hill class.
Becoming Aware
Display boards in church have given details of the type of children who have benefited
from our activities, and there was also a display at the Scouts’ Family Gala. We are
very concerned about the increase in the number of children affected by poverty, and
strive to share our concern with all the parish.
Betty Holden
10.9. Website
Website visits are back up this year with an average of 35 new and 18 returning,
compared to last year of 25 new and 10 returning visitors each week, which is
encouraging. In the past year we have had just under 4003 visits to the website from
across the country and around the world, which is up on last years number by 303 and
puts us back to the levels we had in 2012.
At the time of writing there has been a sharp increase in new visitors over the past
few weeks, some weeks getting close to 50 new visits a week.
Total visits to the website since its inception now stand at 25,931.
I would like to thank The t Time team for supplying the dates and times for their
meetings, and also Helen Harwood for supplying the Mother’s Union syllabus.
www.stmarys-sprotbrough.co.uk
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www.stmarys-sprotbrough.co.uk/churchhall
Roland Lumby
Webmaster
10.10.1. SoulSpace
SoulSpace has been taken a new direction as a mission partnership with All Saints,
Woodlands.
The Group co design and lead a monthly youth service meeting on the third Sunday in
the month, 5-7pm. They meet to plan, review and rehearse every Wednesday 6-8pm
facilitated by a small group of adult facilitators. Georgia is half way through her
Aurora youth course and God willing be licensed as a Youth Worker in the summer. The
young people have developed in their faith and witness as well as musicians, in planning,
teamwork and presentation skills, whilst balancing the pressures of school, activities
and rehearsals. We have won several grants.
The young people have used a variety of tools and techniques and connected with
several different audiences. Some highlights include the ‘fresh and thought provoking’
breakfast service at St Mary’s, their modern take on the nativity ‘add- libbed’ with
guidance from Victor and the girls fast and furious version of “While Shepherds
watched” at the CTS Carol service.
I am due for an operation in June and am asking for anyone who can cover any practices
in June/early July.
Therese is scoping with S-team/worth unlimited a school monitoring scheme in
Ridgewood from September.
10.10.2. Community Development
We have set up a subgroup of Churches Together to oversee our joint mission and
community development work.
We intend to consult the community through
questionnaires etc. where they want our help the most. One of the areas already
identified by the Rector was dementia support. Dementia Friendly Communities (DFC)
Sprotbrough is Doncaster’s first Churches Together led dementia friendly communities’
initiative supported by Alzheimer’s Society, Sue Ryder, Doncaster CCG and Social
Services etc.
The aim is to support carers and people with dementia by improving awareness and help
facilitate early access to services.
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Since January a peer support group 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month at 1-3pm
in the Stable run by Sue Ryder and supported by volunteers from St Mary’s and
the Methodists.
We have provided awareness sessions to 20 volunteers from both churches with
more to come. Free dementia awareness sessions are recommended to anyone
who visits vulnerable adults. Sheila Kennedy, chaplain at SHSC is providing a
half day training ‘Ministry in the vale of forgetfulness’ on Saturday a.m. March
15th.
Local businesses scheme – sign up for an info pack, become more aware and
display the ‘forget me not’ symbol.
A community dementia open day in the hall Friday 14th March 10 – 3pm providing
information and advice on living well and local support services, live music,
activities, therapies, refreshments, food sampling and a raffle.
Working with Alzheimer’s Society to establish a memory café in the Hall in
Spring, possibly linked to food/music.
Dementia Friendly Churches
Therese has also established a diocesan subgroup to establish dementia friendly
churches under the auspices of the Board of Faith and Justice and Mental Health
Working Group. Its aims are to set a broad vision for the diocese, promote good
practice, produce a diocesan action plan, pool resources and training for churches e.g.
environment and spiritual issues, worship, communion and bible study and link with care
homes. We also want to raise the profile of related social justice issues.
Funding for these various initiatives is the subject of several bids for funding.
Therese Paskell
10.10.3. Sunday t Time
Sunday t Time has continued to run throughout 2013, meeting on the 1sr and 3 rd Sunday
of each month with a break in August. Numbers of families have fluctuated through
the year but typically 20-25 people attending each session and enjoying our activities
and teaching. Parents enquiring about baptism for their children are asked to come to
Sunday t Time which they always seem to enjoy. Our meetings are usually based around
a Bible story followed by lots of activities involving craft, colouring, puzzles and often
something involving food!
During the year, Margaret Bellamy has very kindly agreed to join the leadership team,
bringing the team up to 6. (Paula Seaborne, Anne-Marie Brown, the Rector, Irene and
Robert Heaton). We really do need more leaders ; it is great fun and the work
rewarding. Please do consider whether you are able to help in any way – it would be
greatly appreciated.
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My thanks to all the team for their commitment to our work with young families and all
who support it, practically or through prayer – both are vitally important.
Robert Heaton
11. Mission and Outreach
11.1. The Parish Luncheon Club
The Luncheon Club meets at the Newton Arms on the last Thursday of the month and is
now in its 3rd year and has proved to be very popular.
It offers a chance for people from all walks of life both locally and from further a
field to meet, make new friends and enjoy a chat and share a meal with others. The
tables are all set in the conservatory so everyone can be together and not feel lonely.
On average between 45 & 55 people attend and has been known to reach 60 for
Christmas Lunch.
During the year we hold two raffles – Easter and Christmas and all monies raised are
given to local charities. Last Christmas we gave to Save the Children and Macmillan
Nurses. Apart from these every month we have a free raffle donated by the Newton
Arms of a meal for two.
We would like to thank everyone who has kindly given prizes and support throughout
the year and if you haven’t joined us yet please come along – you will be made most
welcome and never be alone.
June Spencer
Carole Hall
Elizabeth Pevereley
11.2. Jigsaw Library & Coffee Morning
The Jigsaw Library is now well into its second year, meeting in the Stable on the 2 nd
Tuesday of each month and has proved very popular with many people coming from
outside the parish on a regular basis.
We have in excess of 250 jigsaws in stock and there is a good selection which is always
changing due to the kind donations received from various people and we would like to
give a big thank you to all who continue to support us in this way.
Along- side the library is the coffee shop which offers homemade cakes and tasty
teatime treats and again is proving a success. Some people who do not wish to rent a
jigsaw come along just for coffee, cake and a friendly chat and enjoy the company of
others. It’s a very enjoyable morning.
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It was not the intention to raise money for this venture but to reach out to the local
community offering something new but any monies raised from either the library or
coffee morning has been donated to the church roof fund and other local charities.
We now have a new member of the team – Liz, who has been a great help over the last
few months so now we are four – Carole, June, Elizabeth & Liz.
We thank everyone for their continuing support and if you haven’t been please come
along, you will be made most welcome.
The Jigsaw/Coffee Team
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