Visitors and Volunteers enjoy great food and company

About eighty people who would otherwise have been on their own, were able to enjoy a Christmas lunch, a good singalong, listen to the Queen’ s speech and to take a present home on Christmas Day. This was the second year this event had been provided to local people, all due to the initiative of our Community Centre Manager, Chris Smith.

The day before, those of us volunteering, spent time wrapping presents, laying the tables, buying drinks and making the Community Centre as welcoming and festive as possible. Such care had been taken with the organisation of the event that everyone had their own place name and a list of what they had chosen to eat and a welcome drink when they arrived.

Chef Steve Mitchell works his magic

The chef said it was a great place to cook and everyone seemed to have enough to eat and drink.  David, who hosted the celebrations this year, did a sterling job keeping everything working well including the streaming of the Queen’s speech which provided somewhat difficult due to the technology.  People who came said how much it meant to them to them being with others and not being on their own.   Transport was provided for people who needed it. For the twenty plus volunteers who helped out on the day it was not only enjoyable but a moving experience. A number of people attending had disabilities and a few were homeless. Hearing life stories from the attenders, a number of whom were getting on for a 100 years old, was a very touching and memorable experience.  Thanks to Chris Smith for making this possible and such a success.

Mike and Lynda Fisher

The PCC met recently. They discussed issues concerning the Community Centre, 2018 budget and the recent Church Review by Phil Mansfield.

You can read the minutes here PCC Minutes 27thnovember2017

Questions relating to any issues arising or other concerns or observations can always be made to any of the staff team or current members of the PCC.

Revd Canon Simon Stevenette (Chair), Richard French, Annette French, Anne Macmillan, Greg Kendall, Ian Farr, Judith Hawkins, Jim D’Avila, Revd David Howell, Brian Harris, Revd Norma McKemey, Daniel Pitt (Lay-Chair), Keith Tredget (Treasurer) and Ailsa Palmer (minutes) Pam Bridgeman, Sheila Wright, Janet French, Siamon Opande.

The PCC have recieved a set of observations and recommendation resulting from the review held for us by Phil Mansfield a member of our St Mary’s congregation. Phil has based his findings on a number of interviews held with members of the congregation over the past few months. The purpose of the review is to explore our vision for Christ Church and look for better and more effective ways of working, both within the church and with the wider community.

A small group comprising – Lynda Fisher, Anne Macmillan, Stephen Grosvenor, Ian Farr and Greg Kendal have been commissioned by the PCC to consider the review and come up with some next step actions. They will report their findings to the PCC meeting on the 29th January 2018.

You can read the minutes of the last PCC meeting 27th November here.

A copy of Phil’s report is available as a download here CC Strategy Review 2017 and paper copies can be obtained from the Parish office. (01793 522832). Please feel free to raise any points you would like to make with any member of the PCC or staff team.

The review represents a significant amount of work and we are very grateful to Phil for his time and expertise.

A big thank you to all those who have sponsored both Simon and Chris for the Swindon Half Marathon.

Simon completed his run in an impressive 1 hr 47 exactly 1 year after he was taken ill with Sepsis whilst Chris, our Development Manager managed a creditable 1hr 59.

Well done to all the local runners who turned out to support our local charities

Christ Church is supporting the work of Swindon Restore. Here is a short film about the community support that the organisation provides.

You can read our Annual Report for 2016 here https://www.christchurchswindon.co.uk/blog/archived-documents/

Our Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be held on Sunday 30th April at 11.30 in the Community Centre next door to Christ Church.

All are welcome

Come and join the Celebrations ​at Christ Church Swindon this Sunday 23rd April 10am

The congregation at Christ Church, Old Town Swindon look forward very much to welcoming members of our Swindon community to join us this Sunday 23rd April 10am. We are delighted that the Right Rev’d Mike Hill, the Bishop of Bristol is coming to dedicate our greatly renewed and much loved church building. The Revd Canon Simon Stevenette writes;’ Bishop Mike has been a great support and encouragement over the years, he is a very gifted preacher and we look forward with anticipation to his visit. We are very appreciative of him fitting us in at short notice in the midst of a hectic schedule leading up to his retirement in September.’ As well as preaching Bishop Mike will preside at Holy Communion and take part in a Question and Answer session after the service in the renewed building.

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/15212546.Historic_church_back_in_business/