News from St. Johns

The Parish Magazine of St. John's has been published since the beginning of the 1900's.   It is full of news and views and is supported by many local firms and companies who advertise.  Please email the Parish Office to obtain a copy of the current magazine or to take out a subscription.

The following are from the current magazine:

The Rector writes:

I had hoped by now to be able to give a definitive date for the closure of the church for works to be carried out, however, the legal process is still underway. There have been some objections to the proposed work from parishioners as well as the Victorian Society and, quite rightly, these need to be taken into consideration by the Chancellor of the Diocese before he reaches his decision on whether to grant a faculty for the whole project or just some bits of it or indeed none of it. The latest news I have is that none of the objectors wish to take matters further than their current written submissions. The PCC has responded to all the objections.

As this is a legal process there are parallels with other courts, and in effect we have reached the stage where all the witnesses have given their evidence and it is now in the judge’s hands (in ecclesiastical terms this is the Chancellor of the Diocese). He will consider all the evidence (the submissions we have made, the objections and the responses) before reaching his conclusion, which I would expect in the next couple of weeks. I will not attempt to predict the outcome, but if we get the approval to carry out any of the work, be it just the heating, lighting and redecoration, we are ready to start work almost immediately. Building contractors have been appointed and are just waiting for the go! We will need to close the church while the work is going on which we expect to last 12 weeks, but the notice of closure will inevitably be short. During this period our Sunday worship will be in St John’s Centre.

It will probably feel strange to worship in a context other than the church building, but this is where we need to remember that the church is the people, not the building and we can worship God anywhere and at any time! I expect there will be teething problems as we get used to the new environment – so please bear with us and give the PCC feedback on ways to improve it. I would remind those with hearing aids that there is a working loop system in the hall.

With the impending work, the decision has had to be taken that St John’s itself will be closed for weddings until mid May (at the moment). I am grateful to West Clandon for allowing us to use their church as a temporary St John’s for weddings during this period – this is in accordance with legal requirements when a licensed church building is closed. But I am sure we would all have sympathy with those whose wedding plans have had to be changed and hold them in our prayers.

Enlightening God’s Space will offer us some wonderful opportunities and will be worth a bit of disruption and uncertainty and your prayers remain an important part of the project.

What’s on in 2012

MDS Wine and Roses - 4 February 2012

When planning entertainment / fundraising remember to take account of:

► Golden Jubilee celebrations 2 – 5 June

► Olympics – 27 July – 12 August.

► Time when the St John’s Centre is in use as the ‘Church’ starting in the New Year.

Registers for December 2011

Baptisms

4th Matthew Kain Wheldrake; Eve Stella Dobbe; Tom Matthew Pritchard

Funeral

21st   Warren George Johnston

Magazine Editor Mrs. Barbara Lawrence 577164

Distributor Mrs. Angela Rye 570478

Treasurer Mrs. Carole Burtonwood 579057

Advertisements Mrs. Tricia Tappin 579193