A YEAR AT REDCLIFFE 2015

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REPORT OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL
In the past year we’ve had a total of nine meetings and, although this is slightly below average, those
meetings have been packed with exciting new initiatives as well as the usual day­to­day decisions that are
needed to keep SMR on an even keel as it charts it’s way through the 21st century.
We continue to swell our ranks and welcome, with open arms, Kat Campion­Spall to the post of Associate
Vicar. Kat has made a big impact within the church and we look forward to seeing where she will take us in
the years to come. In addition to Kat, this year we also have appointed Hannah Currant as our LinkAge
Development worker and Sarah Yates as our Education Officer. Both Hannah and Sarah help us to provide
support and welcome to folk beyond our congregation from both ends of the life spectrum.
In terms of the members of SMR we have started setting up new Community Groups around Bristol. These
are informal geographically based groups whose purpose is to enable us to receive and give support and
fellowship to each other beyond the walls of the church. If you would like to know more about Community
Groups please talk to Marion Durbur or Denise Reynolds.
Speaking of the ‘walls of the church’ there has been much activity relating to the physical bricks and mortar
of the church. We saw the instigation of phase one of the St John’s Chapel renovation and the commissioning
and installation of a new altar in that chapel. We have also started an investigation concerning the cleaning,
conservation and re­presentation of the North porch entrance, which, as one of the older parts of the church,
will be a very big project.
Beyond the church building we continue to consider what can be done, in terms of new facilities, to help
meet the growing needs of SMR. And to also provide a place for support and services for those folk who are
members of our parish, regardless of whether they attend our church. To that end we are working with the
local Methodist Church to explore new uses for our shared Church Centre. There has also been much
discussion and work regarding other potential new developments that have, for a variety of good reasons,
been put aside. Or where changes in circumstances have determined that the ideas are no longer viable. It is
inevitable that in searching for a new path ahead we will sometimes walk down dead ends or blind alleys,
but there is learning and richness in even these.
Part of our role as a church, and especially as SMR, is to open our doors to the general public. We do this
every day of the year but last year we also hosted the large and successful Redcliffe Remembers event on 4th
August to help commemorate the centenary of the start of World War 1. We also had our first Treefest which
saw some 90 organisations each create a decorated tree for an exhibition at SMR. These trees were seen by
about 3000 visitors and £4500 was raised, this was split between three charities including SMR.
In addition to all of the above the PCC has also be busy with various administrative, financial and upkeep
and maintenance issues so, as you can see, much has been done over the past year.
As for the coming year we will continue to work on the big projects relating to the restoration of the St
John’s Chapel and the investigating the North Porch. We will remain a central member of the Redcliffe Way
Development Forum and ensure that the needs and aspirations of SMR are voiced in this critically important
arena. We will also be re­examining the governance structure of the PCC to ensure that it continues to
support the church in an effective and efficient way. And above all we will continue to seek to understand
and realise God’s purpose for our church.
Greca Warr
PCC Secretary.