churchadmin, Author at Christ Church News

Our new Partnership Project is launched

churchadmin2013-04-18T09:44:55+01:00

This project was launched at our joint service at Bath Road on February 24^th when Anna Potts from Christian Aid came to speak to us. We were all inspired when we heard Anna tell us about the determination of people who are disabled in Palestine and Lebanon to live a life as fulfilling as possible and with the money we hope to raise, this hope will become a reality for more people. We have pledged to raise at least £5,000 and our fund raising has already begun. The offering at the service amounted to just over £257 and with other efforts we are now well on the way towards our first £500.

If you have some good ideas for fund raising we would love to hear about them. You can contact me at margaretwilliams111@gmail.com and I will pass them on.

Watch this space for more fund raising events. All our events and activities will bear our logo designed by Thomas Read so congratulations to him on a splendid logo!

His explanation of it is below.

Margaret Williams

” I made this logo with a mixture of the two flags of Lebanon and Palestine with the shaking hands to symbolise our friendship towards the two countries and us being able to help them. The heart shape is there to symbolise that they are in our heart and in our prayers every day.” – Thomas Read

Our new Partnership Project is launchedchurchadmin2013-04-18T09:44:55+01:00

Church Centre Closes

churchadmin2013-03-26T14:36:31+00:00

Following over 40 years of valuable service to the community, the Old Church centre has finally closed its doors for the last time. Contracts have been signed for the new building which should be ready at the end of the Summer. Our contractor Timberworks Europe will officially take responsibility for the site as from 18th February and will start a programme of groundworks, road widening and other preparatory activities during the next couple of weeks.

The old hall minus its hard wearing wooden floor.

Last week saw various groups removing salvageable items from the centre including the fine wooden floor and various other fixtures and fittings. Previously, unwanted items had been offered and sold on Ebay and donated via Free-cycle. The remaining items have been placed in storage.

The build process will inevitably cause some disruption – we have had to install temporary toilets at the South West door of the church and on some days during the groundworks and build programmes, it will be necessary to control access to areas of the paths around the church for health and safety reasons. As soon as we have a full programme of works we will publish it and ensure that everyone knows what is going on.

In the meantime if you would like to know more about the new community centre or become involved in its planning, operation or management then please contact the project team – Stephen Grosvenor (s.grosvenor@gmail.com 07885 217077) or Mike Palmer (michaelailsa@o2.co.uk 07835 582414).

Church Centre Closeschurchadmin2013-03-26T14:36:31+00:00

Easter Eve Ramble – Avebury to Marlborough via Fyfield Down

churchadmin2013-03-31T14:45:10+01:00

This is a charming and varied downland walk from Avebury to Marlborough. At the start it is planned to visit the Neolithic stone circle at Avebury, and then to continue up onto the Marlborough Downs and to cross the Ridgeway at Overton Down, and then via the Sarsen stones at Fyfield Down and past horse gallops and into Marlborough, where refreshments will be available.

Saturday 30 March (Easter Eve)

10.14 Prospect – Bus to Avebury (please be at the bus stop in good time, buses can be a minute or two early)
10.37 Arrive Avebury, then 7 miles walk to Marlborough.
c. 15.30 Arrive back in Marlborough.
Either afternoon bus back to Swindon, or
18.00 early supper at a restaurant in Marlborough, and then
20.15 bus back to Swindon.

Trainers fine, but bring warm clothing and waterproofs in case it is showery, and bring a picnic lunch. If you would like to be included in the early evening meal, at Pino’s Italian restaurant, please let me know so I know how many to book for.

More details from Daniel Pitt
Tel Swindon (01793) 521732

Mobile 07834 704350

Easter Eve Ramble – Avebury to Marlborough via Fyfield Downchurchadmin2013-03-31T14:45:10+01:00

Burial Ground Consultation

churchadmin2013-04-09T17:31:39+01:00

Our plans for the new community hall involve some minor changes to monuments in the churchyard. These will not involve disruption to the graves themselves but may possibly mean moving some of the larger monuments. We are aware that this can be a sensitive subject and wish to keep potentially affected families informed of our plans.

The consultation period has now ended and we have received full permission to proceed from the Church authorities. We expect to start ground works at the site of the new centre in late February, early March 2013. You can find out more about the plans in the various documents below or you can apply to s.grosvenor@gmail.com for paper copies of any of them.

Why we need to make the changes

Plan showing the affected monuments

Plan showing the re-location sites

Details of the affected monuments

Photographs of the proposed new locations

Link to online photographic survey of the churchyard at Christ Church

If you would like to know more or talk to us about the proposals then please contact Stephen Grosvenor – s.grosvenor@gmail.com orMobile 07885 217077

Burial Ground Consultationchurchadmin2013-04-09T17:31:39+01:00

Choral Evensong

churchadmin2013-02-18T15:49:16+00:00

Listen again to Choral Evensong from Christ Church 17/02/2013

Choral Evensongchurchadmin2013-02-18T15:49:16+00:00

Minutes of the Finance and Stewardship Meeting

churchadmin2013-01-22T13:47:37+00:00

The FIS held their last meeting of the year in November. You can read the minutes here.

The next meeting is 22nd January 2013

For more information about the committee contact Gareth Hutchinson (gareth.hutch@yahoo.co.uk) or Chris Raven (mr_raven@hotmail.co.uk)

Minutes of the Finance and Stewardship Meetingchurchadmin2013-01-22T13:47:37+00:00

Minutes of the Buildings and Site Development Committee

churchadmin2013-02-04T11:43:22+00:00

Keith a National Trust conservator gets the table ready for its trip to Cumbria and its new home in Wray Castle

The committee met for the first time this year. You can read the full minutes of the meeting here. We are now only weeks away from the start of the Community Centre build project.

If you would like to comment or offer practical help to the Community Centre project then please contact Stephen Grosvenor (s.grosvenor@gmail.com) or Mike Palmer (michaelailsa@o2.co.uk)

Minutes of the Buildings and Site Development Committeechurchadmin2013-02-04T11:43:22+00:00

Community Development Manager

churchadmin2013-03-01T12:19:36+00:00

Community Centre Development Manager required for our new Community Centre at Christ Church Swindon.
Salary: £18,000 per annum – 25 hrs per week – flexible. 3 Year fixed contract.

Job to start in Spring 2013.

Position Description:

Our focus in the development of the Old Town Community Centre at Christ Church is on engaging with individuals, families, groups, local business and organisations, who are not currently directly connected to the church. By this process we hope to create a greater sense of ownership for the Church and a greater recognition of the value it has for the local community. At the same time the role will be seeking to establish a viable and sustainable business model for the future management of the centre.

The CCDM will seek to identify, create and promote links with the local community, local businesses, charities and local groups. They will work with the existing project team and will assist in the project management of the implementation of the hall’s equipment, systems and resourcing and will ensure that everything is in place for the operation of the new community hall and for the development of St Mary’s as a complementary resource. They will then manage the day to day running of the centre.

Major areas of responsibility will include:

Managing the day to day operation of the community centres and developing local services and programmes of activities to be run from them.
Creating links with local businesses, organisations and groups to look for opportunities to establish partnerships and service their needs.
Creating a marketing and communication plan to promote the use of the facilities.
Developing volunteer resource plans to assist in the operation of the community centre.

Primary Objectives:

Provide leadership to and maintain team spirit, momentum and motivation, in the volunteer work force.
Research and make contact with individuals, local businesses, charities, community groups or other organisations to establish and maintain links with them
Develop external marketing materials in all media to demonstrate the facilities/services available in the halls.

Skills and abilities:

Energetic, flexible, positive and outgoing personality
Excellent social networker
Able to set up and maintain operating procedures

You can download a full job description here.

Closing date for applications 28th February 2013

Letters of application and CV’s please to

CCDM Application

Parish Office

36 Cricklade Street

Swindon

SN1 3HB

For more information about the role – contact Stephen Grosvenor – s.grosvenor@gmail.com

Community Development Managerchurchadmin2013-03-01T12:19:36+00:00

Home Group’s Social Evening

churchadmin2013-01-11T18:13:05+00:00

Saturday 26th January at 7.00pm for 7.30pm in the Church Centre. All home group members and anyone interested in finding out about what happens in Home Groups are warmly invited to a ‘bring & share’ supper at the Church Centre. The evening will be a chance to meet people from other groups and hear (short) presentations about what each group does and plans to do in 2013. Drinks and nibbles will be provided, but we’re asking all Home Groups to get together and provide ‘bring and share’ plates as well – more info on this will come from Home Group Leaders. If you are not currently in a Home Group but want to find out more – please come along. For more info, contact Pam Bridgeman or Anne Macmillan.

Home Group’s Social Eveningchurchadmin2013-01-11T18:13:05+00:00

Upper Seagry Community Hall

churchadmin2013-03-01T12:19:56+00:00

As part of our research and selection process we have visited a number of existing centres including this one in Upper Seagry near Chippenham. We have learnt a lot from these visits and are grateful to the, often, volunteer helpers and project managers who have delivered these excellent community resources. Our new centre will start to be built in Spring 2013.