Annual Church Meeting Summary - By Millie Fry

Every year the church holds the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM), an opportunity to reflect on the previous year, celebrate growth and successes, discuss challenges, review finances and building upkeep, and elect representatives for the church council and wider Deanery and Diocesan councils. Anyone on the church electoral role can vote at the meeting, in the same way that you can only vote in local and general political elections if you are registered on the electoral role. At this year’s APCM, we elected two new PCC (Parochial Church Council) members, four Deanery Synod representatives (including one returning representative), and two Churchwardens — one returning and one new starter: me! Most importantly, the APCM is a chance to thank God for all He has done and continues to do within our church community.

There has been much to celebrate over the past year. Following the departure of our children’s worker and a period of maternity leave for our youth worker, we were delighted in September to welcome a new Youth and Children’s Team Lead, along with two excellent interns. More recently, a Community Development Worker and a PA to the Vicar have also joined the staff team and have already made a significant positive impact on both the church and wider community.

Another major encouragement is the continued progress of the church’s upcoming building project. After a long wait for planning permission and Church of England

faculties, all approvals are now in place, meaning we are ready to go out to tender

once sufficient funds have been raised. Thanks to the generosity of the congregation, supporters, and several grant providers, we have already raised around three quarters of the amount needed to complete Phase 1, which is an incredible achievement.

We continue to be a thriving and growing church with a congregation spanning a wide range of ages. Last year, several volunteers committed to launching a midweek youth group for young people in Year 10 and above, who currently do not have a dedicated Sunday morning provision outside the main service. The group has become a valuable place of belonging, fun and deeper discipleship for many of our young people, and this has recently been strengthened further through another successful residential weekend away.

Alongside these successes, we also acknowledged the challenges we face now and in the coming year. Our curates (trainee vicars) are preparing to plant a new church community. Although these plans have been agreed for some time, they are currently delayed while we complete the necessary Church of England processes and continue building relationships and connections. We are also conscious that sending a team to support the church plant means saying goodbye to some wonderful members of our congregation. These are people who faithfully serve on teams, contribute financially, and are treasured friends who will be deeply missed at St Paul’s. At the same time, it is encouraging to know they will be using their gifts, time and resources to help grow a new church community and expand God’s kingdom.

Another significant challenge is raising the remaining funds needed for the building project. We continue to encourage generous giving, plan further fundraising events, and pray that God will provide in His timing. While the future naturally contains risks and uncertainties, it is also full of hope. These challenges are signs of growth, vision and faith for the future, and we are choosing to move forward with trust, optimism and courage.

The APCM is also a valuable opportunity to publicly thank everyone who gives and serves so faithfully. We are deeply grateful for the volunteers whose dedication keeps our ministries not only functioning but flourishing. During the period last year when the staff team was greatly reduced, volunteers stepped up with enthusiasm, sacrifice and responsibility, creating a strong and supportive foundation for incoming staff members.

We also said a heartfelt thank you to our departing Churchwarden, Eleanor, for her immense hard work, dedication and commitment to both the role and the church. Eleanor has been exceptional and will thankfully continue serving on the Building Committee and Deanery Synod. She brings wisdom, experience and a practical attitude that gets things done. She will be greatly missed in this role, and as her replacement I feel I am stepping into very big shoes. I have much to learn, but with the support of my fellow Churchwarden Rob, my husband Nick - who previously served as a Churchwarden - and our wonderful congregation, I am confident I can grow into the role. I would love any wisdom or encouragement people may wish to share as I begin this new chapter, and I hope to serve the church effectively, with creativity, optimism and faithfulness, for many years to come.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Ephesians 3:20-21