Mission Statement

(Our reason and purpose for being here is ….)

To experience and know God’s transforming love more deeply, and to share that love with others by living it out in our daily lives.

Vision Statement

(How we want to be described in five years’ time)

An outward-looking, welcoming and loving Christian family, where everyone seeks to live a life of faith day by day.

Strengths

  • The distinctive nature, depth, diversity and quality of our Anglo-Catholic worship and tradition.
  • The beauty and condition of our Parish Church and grounds.
  • Our excellent facilities, staff, and the condition of our Parish Hall.
  • The quality and breadth of clergy and lay leadership across numerous aspects of our Church.
  • Our diverse and talented people.
  • Opportunities to partake in well-established evangelistic, musical, and pastoral activities.
  • Our well received Enquirers’, Confirmation, and Study Courses.
  • Continuing stable financial stewardship and outward-giving.
  • Continuing work with children and young people through music, liturgy, nurture, and social activities.
  • Our very welcoming, supportive, friendly, and forward-looking Christian family.
  • Our Church is kept open every day.
  •  

Weaknesses

  • We could communicate the “good news” of our faith more effectively in our community and beyond.
  • A heavy reliance on a small group of very committed people.
  • We are a complex, primarily voluntary organisation, where many roles are not clearly defined or their tasks may be taken for granted.
  • Opportunities
  • We have boundless opportunities to teach and share the Christian faith across our varied services and activities.
  • There is a thirst for further opportunities to grow in discipleship.
  • There is a thirst for further opportunities to foster and nurture vocations.
  • We can better use the many skills and abilities latent within our congregations.
  • To develop our use of technology and social media in order to raise our profile and share our “good news”.
  •  

Threats

  • A time of vacancy would lead to a significant reduction in our clergy resource.
  • The loss of a number of our small group of very committed people.
  • The secularisation of our society and especially Sundays.
  • Taking the roles and time of clergy, staff and volunteers for granted.
  •  

Priority Goals

(In the coming years we want to focus on…..)

  • Consolidating and Improving:
  • Our Nurture Courses: the Study Courses; Enquirers’ Course; and Confirmation Courses.
  • Financial Stewardship: the MAP Stewardship Group will continue to oversee an annual renewal programme to encourage newer members into regular, committed giving and to offer existing members the opportunity for a yearly recommitment.
  • Continue our structured approach to outward giving to missions and charities through the Outward Giving Group.
  • Continue to support the many opportunities offered for children and young people through our Sunday School, “Playtime”, Family Service, “Cant & Dec”, “Young Peoples Breakfasts”, “Social Time”, “Revelation and Relaxation” and Choral Scholarships.
  • Complete the outstanding items in our Quinquennial Inspection by the end of the quinquennium in 2020. Explore the financing and completing if outstanding fabric matters including enhancing of the existing disability provision.

New:

  • Review of our external communications and look at improving how we share our “good news” by establishing a working group accountable to the PCC, particularly focussing on our website and social media.
  • Explore drafting “roles and responsibilities” for volunteers so that mutual expectations are more clearly defined and the contributions of volunteers are more deeply honoured.
  • Establish a small group to work with Fr Philip on reviewing the opportunities for growth in Christian discipleship and the nurturing of vocations within St Margaret’s to enhance our present well-received courses.
  • Invite the PCC to consider the implications of a time of vacancy for St Margaret’s and how we may best prepare for this.
  • Explore ways of supporting the Diocesan Strategy by contributing as a Catholic “resource church”.