Mellor Articles

The Walklate Foundation David Ackroyd

The Foundation was established in 1639 and exists to support young people under the age of 25 and resident in the Parish of Mellor. Financial assistance is at the sole discretion of the Trustees but they may provide:

(a) finance to support Mellor School with projects or educational resources which will benefit the pupils and the community (subject to confirmation from the Charity Commission);

(b) financial assistance to individual young people to continue in, or assist their entry into, education at school, university or any other educational establishment

(b) financial assistance to individual young people on leaving school, university or other educational establishment to prepare for, or assist their entry into, a profession, trade or calling.

There are seven Trustees who are each appointed for five years (and can be reappointed). There is currently a vacancy and anyone interested is invited to contact David Ackroyd (427 1568).

MARPLE CHRISTIAN CARE Judith Shiel

Marple Christian Care helps local people who do not have their own transport,

or who have difficulty in using public transport to get about.

This can be for the purpose of keeping medical appointments, doing shopping or visiting friends. The area covered includes Marple, Marple Bridge, Mellor, Strines, Hawk Green and Compstall. Volunteer drivers need to have a CRB check, but do not need any other qualifications apart from having their own cars. Expenses are covered by donations made to the organization. Stockport MBC provides a table and telephone in Marple Library, which is staffed between 10.00 am and 12.30 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, taking requests for help and giving out information. This is also run by volunteers.

More help is needed for both. If you would like to help, or want more information about Marple Christian Care, please contact the desk, either in the library or by telephone (449 0829) at the times given. Alternatively, contact Ann Lyon on 01663 763751. Any help would be gratefully received.

The Mellor Church Survey 2011

This survey forms part of the work being done by the GAP (Growth Action Plan) team which is now in its second year and is concerned with looking at development of the Church as a whole.

Part of the work that GAP is doing is looking at communication within the Church and between the Church and the wider community. This survey is a starting point to enable the GAP team to understand what people think about everyday life in the Church and to hear opinions from people about how we could improve things further. We would like to hear from everyone, ranging from the Vicar to readers of Outlook who may never attend Church on Sunday or who may attend other Churches. It would also be good to hear from visitors.

Enclosed are ten questions which vary in their style of answer. Some are a simple YES/NO, others ask you to say how much you agree with a specific statement and there are some completely open questions which ask for your own thoughts.

The survey will be available in Church, in the Parish Centre and in Outlook magazine. It will run until the middle of November and results will be published early in 2012. The survey will also be available on the Church website and will run for 6 months as an ongoing opportunity to allow occasional visitors to the Church another way of communicating with us.

Please take the time to complete the survey. You may not wish to answer all the questions and that is fine, the most important thing is that we get to know your opinions and hear what you want to say! By all means add other information about questions we have not asked if it is important to you. This may also help us design future questionnaires.

Please return completed surveys to the boxes at the back of Church or in the Parish Centre, or post them to the Parish Office, Mellor Parish Centre, Church Road, Mellor SK6 5LX.

Thanks for your help,

The GAP communications team

Please CLICK HERE for the on-line version of the survey

Making a Will? Peter Forbes

Nobody ‘looks forward’ to making a Will but it is a job worth doing to avoid the awful consequences of dying intestate. The laws of Intestacy are rigid and unalterable and your property could end up in the wrong hands if you die without making a Will. It is important to see a Solicitor who can guide you through the pitfalls and draw up a Will which accords with your intentions.

Part of a Solicitor’s advice will be to make sure you take advantage of all means of reducing your liability to Inheritance Tax which is levied at the rate of 40% on all assets in excess of the free allowance. Gifts to registered charities are free of Inheritance Tax so any gift to Mellor Church, which is a registered charity, will escape the 40% tax charge. Such a gift is usually termed a ‘Legacy’.

Guidance leaflets explaining Wills and Legacies are on display in church and in the parish centre. If you are thinking of making your Will, or bringing it up to date, please take one of the leaflets with you when you meet your Solicitor. Mellor Church has been fortunate in receiving a number of legacies in recent years which have helped with special projects or day to day expenditure. If you are able to make a gift in this way, with or without conditions, it will be much appreciated.

Waste Paper Peter Forbes

My thanks to all who continue to bring waste paper and cardboard up to the hearse house. The price for wastepaper has fallen since April£56 per tonne to £25 per tonne so we need to increase the amount we save to compensate for the price fall.

Please keep paper separate from cardboard, as we have to keep them separate when it is collected - and keep it coming!

MELLOR GOES TO CHESTER Amy ‘Mim’ Bothy

Canons to the left of us, Bishops to the right, into the Cathedral of Chester marched the Mellor 100!

Some arrived by coach, some by park & ride, some by taxi & some hot footed from car parks, but all met in the splendour that is Chester Cathedral.

The excitement was palpable as the organist began and the choir sang the introit: Omnes de Saba Venient, each note heralding the arrival of our beloved Peter & an entourage of notable clergy.

The clipping of heels was heard as Peter & Elaine (Honorary Canon) were verged into the Nave & the procession began.

Peter delivered his declaration & oaths to all, everything was signed & delivered to the Dean, then he was taken away to his seat & was presented, collated & installed (sadly out of sight) & upon his return to us he had been transformed from wearing his Cathedral stole (lovingly stitched in breaks from moving by Vicki) to robes of deep purple with stunning embroidery, all very Peter.

The Revd Canon Dr. Peter Jenner then delivered an awesome Sermon, embracing his new role as Canon Residentiary, acknowledging his to be missed Mellor & the support of his family & friends. He spoke of the welcome he & Elaine had received & the excitement of their new positions within the Cathedral.

The choir, not a patch on our Mellor voices, brought colour & light to the hallowed walls, filling the flying buttresses with the most heavenly of sounds.

The service was a sombre & thought provoking experience, but the words being spoken to & by Peter were warm & welcoming; although we are sad to see him leave us I believe Chester is honoured to receive him into their “centre” & “the trouble maker” is clearly already well liked & a new chapter begins for Peter & Vicki.

The Mellor tribe exited, being met at the door firstly by the Bishop of Stockport who greeted us stragglers with “Mellor?” (he must have felt most of the village had shaken his hand), then by the Bishop of Birkenhead & finally by our own (Revd Canon Dr.) Peter, wearing not only his new robes, but a grin to rival a Cheshire cat. I did overhear some of the excited congratulations being made to him, my favourite being “what colour are your away robes?” - the owner of said comment will remain nameless! The Bishop, now out of ceremonial robes, was warmly welcoming ALL Jenners to Chester & we were escorted to tea with him.

Our gang will miss our Peter & Vicki, but with love we wish them joy & happiness in their beautiful new home & wish Peter many happy walks with billowing robes to his new post & stall in Chester Cathedral.

Notes from the extraordinary PCC meeting of Thurs. 5th Jan. 2012

The Venerable Ian Bishop Archdeacon of Macclesfield and Revd. Janet Parker the Rural Dean of the Chadkirk Deanery attended the meeting which had been called in accordance with Diocesan requirements to consider the vacancy and programme of action required to select an incumbent. Following the announcement of Peter’s move to Chester the Churchwardens received two guidance documents: “Vacancy Booklet” and “Filling a vacancy for an Incumbent- Information Pack” A hard copy is available in the Parish Office.

The Archdeacon opened the meeting with prayer. In his address he said that the vacancy could be a period of opportunity as well as consolidation and growth as people become more involved in the work and worship of the parish. The church may also gain from the variety of ministry received during the vacancy and be spurred on by all our prayers. The treasurer reported that in accordance with the guidance the parish share will continue to be paid during the vacancy, but that certain other essential running costs will be met by the diocese.

During the vacancy the Churchwardens and the Rural Dean collectively take responsibility for the life and work of the church.

The appointment of the Churchwardens to represent the parish in connection with the selection of a vicar was approved unanimously.

The Archdeacon advised the PCC to review the Parish Profile document considering its presentation and style and to reduce detail, concentrating on how to attract interest as well as providing a realistic description of the church and parish. It should be enhanced with photographs, stressing many of the developments in the church and its activities in the community. He said that it would be appropriate to bring forward key issues like the choral tradition, staffed parish office, active lay membership and experimenting with Alternative Worship. The Archdeacon considered that the headings for the Person Specification were appropriate and should be included in the document. A summary of the accounts and a reduced GAP report indicating progress should be attached as appendices.

The revised document would be sent to the Archdeacon and Rural Dean for their consideration before being submitted to the Chester Diocese Director of Human Resources.

The Archdeacon informed the meeting that the Diocesan Surveyor would need to carry out a detailed survey of the Vicarage, as the Diocese will need to investigate the economic viability of refurbishing it.

Following advice it was agreed that the vacancy would be advertised on the Diocese’s website in the first instance and the PCC would ask for it to be advertised in the Church Times if the first action was unsuccessful.

As the PCC had previously passed resolutions with regard to the ordination of women it was agreed unanimously that it was not necessary to pass further resolutions concerning women priests.

The Archdeacon asked if the Churchwardens would keep in touch with him and the Rural Dean by telephone about every six weeks.

The Archdeacon said that the Vice Chair of the PCC could Chair the APCM.

The PCC meeting of Tues 10th Jan. 2012 will be reported in March’s Outlook.

The date of the Annual Parish Church Meeting is 22nd April 2012.

MELLOR BELL RINGERS

‘Old Paddy’ Tim Lowe

Bellringer Paddy Whitham recently reached a landmark birthday, with almost half these years spent in the Mellor Church belfry (at least on Sunday mornings). To honour this his fellow campanologists have named the church bell 'Old Paddy'.

Due to his nature it would be appreciated if parishioners approaching the church refrain from saying 'Old Paddy's a bit slow'

Bell-ringers alive!! Andrew Sokill
As John Donne mused : 'Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.'
As one of the bell-ringers who appeared under the caption: 'We offer our love and sympathy to all who mourn them' on Page 23 of last month's Outlook, I would like to confirm that despite rumours to the contrary and in the face of any suspicions that your readers may have reached after recent conversations with my colleagues, I am alive. Best wishes Andy.