The Dean Meets With The Vestry
The Dean Rev Ian Barcroft met with the vestry members on 18 March 2019
to discuss the vacancy, congregation and buildings church and the rectory.
The outcome of this meeting was to encourage the Vestry to take care of St
Oswald’s church and the congregation. The Patronage committee will be set
up in due course and we should develop a profile that can be used to help
those who wish to apply for the vacancy.
Although the Vestry had previously communicated to the Diocesan Property
Committee that it was our decision to sell the rectory and reinvest the
monies. Another property would be purchased nearer the church when the
Priest vacancy was filled. However, the Diocese Committee did not feel this
was the best thing to do. The outcome was that St Oswald’s vestry members
agreed with Diocesan decision because the Dean reassured those present
that the day to day letting and care of the rectory premises would be retained
by the Diocese and estate agents, Fineholm. The letting income would be
banked monthly to St Oswald’s.
The Dean reassured those present that the Diocesan office, pastoral support
and visiting Priests would continue over the next six months and that we
would sit down again to discuss the Patronage and filling of the vacancy.
The Dean was happy that he could go back to the Diocese with a good
report that St Oswald’s was managing well just now.
Vestry Meeting
Rector’s Warden chaired the meeting which followed the Sunday Eucharist
on Sunday 7 April 2019 and opened with prayer. The minutes of the
previous month’s meeting had previously been circulated to all members and
were approved by the vestry.
Reports were received from the Treasurer and the Secretary and brought
the members up to date with the condition of the church and rectory,
focussing on financial matters, insurances and council tax, health and safety
items, upkeep of the grounds, incoming and outgoing correspondence
relating to St Oswald’s.
Discussion followed a proposal to amend the time of the Sunday service.
There were mixed views on this proposal and the outcome decision was to
revisit the matter when we had appointed a new Priest and not to complicate
the present interim arrangements.
The Lay Representative will attend the first meeting on 26 April 2019 to be
held in Kilmarnock as the process to appoint the new Bishop of Glasgow and
Galloway restarts. The next meeting of the Vestry will be held on Sunday 19
May immediately after the service.
Morag McHaffie (Secretary).
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