Meesden, St Mary version: 3

What progress have you made with the Goals from your previous MAP, and what do you want to celebrate?

• The spire is fixed
• Increased Family Services with re-working the rota
• Good care of residents and newcomers continued

What Goals did you set where you saw less progress than you would have liked?

• A decline in numbers at family services
• Roof still needs repair as does medieval pavement

Things seen about our local community

• We are a small village with around 110 residents - and a growing number of children.
• We have a strong sense of community.
• Our village has a good mix of long term villagers and active newcomers.

How have you begun to engage with these concerns / needs / issues?

• Messy Church has been extended from Anstey to Meesden
• We hold a mix of traditional worship & Messy Church
• Maintained our visitors team and pastoral care

Vision (for five years' time)

We are a thriving church, which attracts our local families to services. We are welcoming and hospitable to people of all ages and we undertake pastoral care for our community. Our church is well cared for and the building is sound.

Current Situation

From our Parish Statistics for Mission, we see that we are / have...

An inconsistent worshipping community; major festivals are important especially Christmas. Children's attendance is unpredictable.

Priorities (for the next five years)

• Repair the spire and the roof.
• Increase congregation by 20% from the current 10 regulars.
• Increase our younger members in services and have them represented on the PCC.

Goals (for the next year)

• Fix the roof.
• Hold 8-10 family services a year, with additional craft activities at major events.
• Hold 3 Evensong services a year for our traditional members.
• Contribute to the Benefice and support the Rector.
• Continue our pastoral care of residents.