Vicar Malcolm Widdecombe officially retired on May 31st.

As we continue to work as a church body during the vacancy period, church administrator Rose Taylor will be working for the church 3½ days per week, including 3 days in the office (most likely Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.)

Rose will be the centre of everything that happens at Pip n Jay. If you need to use the church for a meeting, practice or social event, you MUST check with Rose first. If any event is changed, again notify Rose.

To contact the church office, email Rose Taylor - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it - or call 0117 929 3386.

Rob Hook writes:

In any church it is the Vicar or ordained minister who is responsible to the Bishop of that Diocese for the effective pastoring and leading of the congregation. In a vacancy (where there is no vicar or priest in charge) these responsibilities rest with the Church Wardens and the PCC.

In both cases there is typically a team of people who support the vicar or Wardens in preaching, teaching and leading services called Licensed Lay Ministers. Historically they were called Lay Readers but the church has realised that these individuals can take on much of the work of an ordained minister. The term Lay does not refer to their work ethic but it means “uninitiated” as they are not ordained. That does not make them any less worthy! The LLMs go through a rigorous selection process to approve their vocational calling, are approved by their churches PCC and undergo at least two years of training. The list of Pip ‘n’ Jay LLMs is as follows:

Adrian Bright, Rob Hook, Sheila McKay, Steve Sharples, Jill Kells, Dave Matthews, Chris Perkins, Pat Willson
(+ Andy Hiscox – in training, due to be licensed in 2010)

If you have any comments on the running of the services please mention it to one of them. We meet regularly to review how we worship and how we move forward as a fellowship.