“Each household within the village received a letter from our Parish priest Margaret Venables last week. (see below/attached). The letter outlines the Church’s quest to define and fulfil its role within our community. Dwindling attendances for regular Sunday services lead us to trial alternative Service arrangements, but we wish to explore all opportunities to strengthen our Christian community within the village.
 
During the evenings of 28-30 August, each house will be visited by members of the Church Council, in order to canvass your views. We want to know how you see the church’s role in the village, what sort of services/events you would wish to attend, how you may wish to support the church in the future, or how the church may support you. We understand that Christian worship may be of no interest to some – but we welcome your views too - you will almost certainly have views about the fate of the building which defines the centre of our village and may also have innovative ideas on how best to make use of our church.
 
We hope you find the survey interesting and look forward to meeting you all shortly.”

Siân Howells

PARISH CHURCH OF ST ANDREW, UFFORD


The Rectory
Millstone Lane
Barnack
Stamford
PE9 3ET

17^th August 2007

Dear

When I was licensed as your Parish Priest the Bishop said as part of the Service: ‘take care of the souls which are both yours and mine'. That was easily accomplished in the past, when each church had its own priest. Today it is more difficult to understand how a Christian community and their priest might best serve their community. We have been struggling with this in Ufford since I came here.

We are a small village with a large and significant church at its centre, to which many of you make contributions both in practical ways and financially. I am extremely grateful to you for this help, without you we would not be able to keep the building open and make it available for weddings, funerals and baptisms, as well as other services in the benefice.

However, a church is not only about a building, but about the people who make up the Christian community and the Church Council of Ufford would like your opinions on how we can best serve you. In order to do this we are conducting a survey of everyone in the village on 28^th, 29^th and 30^th of August. We will be calling on you at some time in the evening on those days to ask such things as : ‘What do you think is the place of the church in a community such as this?'; ‘ If the church was to put on an activity, what would you like it to be - Services? Fetes? Coffee and Chat groups? Children's activities? - or others?' If any of this is outside your interest, we need to hear that, too.

I really hope that you will be prepared to help us. Of course, if you want to speak to me personally about this or any other issue, please feel you are able to ring me and I will arrange to visit you


With every good wish

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