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Vicar%u2019s%u2008ReportMISSION COMMUNITY East Crompton St James with St Saviour were in a Mission Community with St James Thornham, St Mary High Crompton and Holy Trinity Shaw, Mtr Katy Cunliffe being their Incumbent as well as Mission Community Leader. GOVERNANCE CHANGES DURING 2024In January, all PCCs within the Mission Community agreed unanimously to work towards a Team Ministry in Shaw and Crompton and Thornham. To this end, in addition to her existing incumbencies, Mother Katy became Assistant Priest of East Crompton St James with St Saviour. Simultaneously, Father Paul was appointed as Incumbent of East Crompton St James with St Saviour and Assistant Priest of St Mary%u2019s, Holy Trinity and Thornham St James. Father Paul was licensed at East Crompton St James on 30th July for the whole Mission Community, thus completing the groundwork to form the team ministry.The matter rests with the Church Commissioners and it is anticipated that the Mission Community will become a Team Ministry in 2025. EMPLOYEES - ADMINISTRATORIn September 2024, the PCC agreed to contribute to the cost of the administrator already working for Thornham, St Mary%u2019s and Holy Trinity. The hours were increased from 20 to 25 per week from October, with administrative responsibilities across the four parishes, each contributing a quarter of the costs. The employing PCC remains St Mary%u2019s and Richard Garratt continues to be the administrator.THE PCC met seven times in 2024: there were six regular meetings, one extraordinary meeting for additional urgent items of business. In addition to any specific items of business, all regular meetings include reports from or on clergy, finances, buildings, health and safety, safeguarding, the Electoral Roll, the Deanery Synod, and the Standing Committee. JANUARY The year started with the usual seasonal worship.At the PCC meeting on 22nd January, we began the process of exploring team ministry, which had first been raised at our meeting in November 2023. All four PCCs in the Mission Community at their January meeting had received an information paper, prepared from a meeting of clergy and churchwardens on 9th January, where questions were raised and options set out. No decision was made at this PCC meeting, as there were still some unanswered questions about practicalities. However, the benefits of forming a United Benefice, in which the parishes retained their individual PCCs, was favoured at this stage. FEBRUARYFebruary began with our Christingle services to celebrate Candlemas and bring the Christmas and Epiphany seasons to a close. Mother Katy and Father Paul met with the diocese to obtain answers to the questions raised by all four PCCs regarding the potential team ministry. This meeting was followed by a meeting with the churchwardens, the result of which was a firm proposal that we should go down the route of forming a United Benefice. The main reasons for this were that each parish would retain its own PCC, each parish would retain responsibility for its own finances and all licensed clergy would be licensed to the whole benefice. The diocese was asked to proceed on this basis.Lent began on 14th February with joint Ash Wednesday services taking place at St James%u2019 Thornham (morning) and St James%u2019 East Crompton (evening). A Lenten book club was formed across the Mission Community, reading the Archbishop or York%u2019s Lent Book, %u2018A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 40 days with Jane Austen%u2019 by Rachel Mann, who is the Archdeacon of Salford and Bolton. Although we found aspects of this book quite difficult, it resulted in some rich conversations and plans for further book clubs later in the year. The Eco Church plan encouraged %u2018Go Green for Lent%u2019.MARCH The PCC met on 18th March. Approval of the annual report was a key agenda item. In addition, we received proposals for Advent and Christmas worship in 2024 and received reports on the usual business items involved in the smooth running of the church.We had a full range of services during Holy Week across the Mission Community. Each church had its own mid-week Eucharist and Sunday services on Palm Sunday and Easter Day (31st March). APRILThe Annual Parochial Church Meeting was held on 21st April. The membership of the PCC confirmed leaving no vacancies. MAY We celebrated Ascension Day on 9th May with a Sung Eucharist hosted at Thornham St James. On 19th, we held a Whit Walk in partnership with Shaw & Crompton Churches Together which was a great success. On 30th May, we hosted a joint Mission Community Festival Eucharist, celebrating Corpus Christi.The PCC met on 20th May, where Members of the PCC re-affirmed the code of conduct. Policies were reviewed, updated and agreed for the coming year. A proposal was discussed to update the regular Sunday Eucharist order of service at St Saviour%u2019s in an attempt to make it more engaging for children and young people.All churches in the Mission Community observed No Mow May and encouraged others to do so.JUNEDuring June children from across the Mission Community were prepared for and admitted to receive Holy Communion. Confirmation preparation for candidates across the Mission Community began.On 9th June we observed RSCM Music Sunday. PCC held an extraordinary meeting on 23rd June in which we resolved to receive the ministry of Mother Katy as Assistant Priest. This was an important step in the process towards a team ministry.JULYOn 2nd July, the Mission Community held a discussion group entitled, %u2018Images of God: What does God look like?%u2019 at St Saviour%u2019s. On 9th July, a Mission Community Confirmation Service was held at St Saviour%u2019s with 3 adults and 3 children being confirmed from St James%u2019.On 30th July, Father Paul was licensed as Incumbent (Vicar) of East Crompton St James with St Saviour and Assistant Priest for Thornham St James, St Mary and Holy Trinity at a special service at ECSJ led by Bishop Mark Davies.A REPORT ON THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE PCC AND THE ACTIVITIES OF THE PARISH GENERALLY