An interregnum is a challenging time and for our Clergy Team this has meant not only extra work but also additional responsibility. In December 2004 Rosemary Donovan was appointed associate priest and youth worker across the parishes of St Mary & St Anne. Her work load and responsibilities as priest since Averyl Bradbrook’s departure alone have added up to more than a full time post but, in addition, she has continued to undertake her job as our youth worker with great success. At last year’s Annual Meeting Averyl told us that in May 2005 Joan Griffin would begin her semi-retirement, taking a smaller role in the day-to-day ministry of the church. I am sorry that Joan has had to put that semi-retirement on hold. We were all delighted when Peter Hansell joined us in July 2005 after his ordination as deacon and we have been grateful for all that he has been able to contribute. Last Summer Adam Dunning let it be known that he wished to go back into full time ministry. We were saddened to hear that, not being able to find a post in Birmingham, he had accepted a post in the Peterborough diocese starting in January 2006. Thankfully we have two experienced and able readers in Cathie Carey and Jonathan Hodgson, who have been able to give invaluable support. For their sheer hard work over the last year I should like to thank our Clergy Team.
During the inter-regnum our Churchwardens, Liz Blakey and John Dowell, have had to assume ultimate responsibility for the running of St. Mary’s and have spent much time and effort in doing so. We should all be most grateful to them for their tireless dedication. I should like to thank our Secretary Ann Andrew, ably assisted by Janet Thorne in the Parish Office.
Jeff Isaacs stood down as Treasurer at the beginning of this year and Michael Hell volunteered his services and his offer was accepted with alacrity by the PCC, who appointed him Treasurer. Jeff has been Treasurer for 5 years. I think that this role is probably one of the most arduous and thankless unpaid positions in any church and I would like to thank Jeff for all his hard work and Jenny for her support. I am sorry that they can not be at this meeting so that I could thank them properly in person.
We now have a new PCC and I am grateful to all those who have put themselves forward for election. A great deal of responsibility rests on the new PCC during this inter-regnum. I thank those members of the PCC who have decided not to stand again, or who are ineligible to stand again, for re-election.
Many members of the congregation have contributed to the life and work of St. Mary’s. The reports of all the Church groups have been tabled and I should like to thank the authors for their full and informative reports and also all those involved in the various groups. We are indeed very fortunate at St Mary’s to have so many groups and so many enthusiastic volunteers. However, we still have a need for volunteers so do not be shy.
As Rosemary has mentioned this has been a year of celebration; St Mary’s celebrating 600 years of Christian worship in Moseley. Our thanks go to Jan Miller and her team for organising all the events with so much success. Thanks are due to Robert Brown and his team for their work organising the 600th Anniversary Thanksgiving service in October. It was a very inspiring service, led by the irrepressible Archbishop John Sentamu.
For all that all the foregoing have contributed to the life of St. Mary’s we thank God. They all deserve our grateful thanks.