The Rectory, Mickleham
for June 2011

Dear friends,

Over five years ago, I wrote a letter outlining the church family’s ambitious plans for the future. They included the vision to make the church the heart beat of the community. In order to assist with this, we set out a bold plan to complete a list of outstanding work on the church building, and to endeavour to make the interior more suitable for use as a community facility as well as a place for worship and quiet reflection. The plan included some re-arrangement of the front of the nave to provide a performance space for concerts, the provision of proper facilities for serving refreshments and a new lighting system; and of course the provision of toilet facilities and a comfortable area for meetings, and children’s activities on a Sunday morning.

Amazingly all these facilities are now in place, and the result is that the church is used for a whole range of activities from Storytime for under 5s on a Thursday to a concert venue on some Sunday evenings, and a host of other meetings in the course of the week. It is marvellous to see the church re-establish itself as a place where people of all ages feel at ease and welcome.

One last task remains on the original development plan, and that is the rebuilding of the organ which is now in need of a major overhaul, if it is to continue to play the vitally important role it fulfils every Sunday, and at a range of occasional services from school assemblies, concerts, and family events such as baptisms, weddings and funerals. Very few of us will not benefit from its music at some point in out lives!

We have been trying to retain sufficient funds in our building fund to assist with this work, but we would hugely value your support in raising some of the money needed to meet the cost of £70,000.

I realise we are all affected by the current economic climate, but I wonder if you can possibly be your normal generous selves and respond to the article you will find on page 2. At a glance it would seem that if every household gave £35 gift aided, we would be home and dry. Of course some of you would really struggle with such an amount, but others may feel they can be more generous. Let’s see what happens. Thank you for at least giving it some thought.

Meanwhile June is a month of outdoor events. There are a number this year including the Choral Society’s Summer Concert on Saturday 18th June, a Celebrity Cricket Match and Family Fun Day at Box Hill School on Sunday 19th June and the Village Party on Saturday 25th June.

In addition there is the Children’s Workshop for Father’s day at Juniper Hall on Saturday 18th June followed by the Open Air Service in the Rectory garden at 10am on Sunday 19th June when we shall be licensing Louise Davies as a Pastoral Assistant in our community. So, no shortage of events to enjoy.

We are, indeed, a very privileged community.

With every good wish, as ever
David Ireland