| Sunday 4th February | ||
| Putford | 9.00am | Holy Communion |
| Bradworthy | 10.00am | Morning Prayer |
| Sutcombe | 10.00am | Choral Communion |
| Abbots Bickington | 11.30am | Choral Communion |
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Sunday 11th February |
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| Sutcombe | 9.00am | Holy Communion |
| Bradworthy | 10.00am | Family Communion with renewal of marriage vows. |
| Putford | 11.30am | Choral Communion |
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Wednesday 14th February |
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| Bradworthy | 5.30pm | Thinking Day Service for Brownies, Guides and Rainbows. |
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Sunday 18th February |
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| Putford | 9.00am | Holy Communion |
| Bradworthy | 10.00am | Family Communion |
| Sutcombe | 11.30am | Choral Communion |
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Sunday 25th February |
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| Sutcombe | 9.00am | Holy Communion |
| Bradworthy | 10.06am | Choral Communion |
| Putford | 10.00am | Morning Prayer |
| Bulkworthy | 11.30am | Choral Communion |
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Wednesday 28th February |
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| Bradworthy | 7.30pm | Ash Wednesday, Holy Communion |
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Sunday March 4th |
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| Putford | 9.00am | Holy Communion |
| Bradworthy | 10.00am | Family Service |
| Sutcombe | 10.00am | Morning Prayer |
| Abbots Bickington | 11.30am | Choral Communion |
What a wonderful Christmas period this year. All the services and events were well attended and there seemed to have been a lovely atmosphere throughout. Many thanks to the members of the congregation for so much help and support and to all those who made mince pies or helped in other ways. Thank you.
The Christmas Tree Festival was also well supported and thanks to the individuals and organisations that decorated a tree. Every entry received at least four votes, but the winner, for the second year, was Wickets garage. Those of us who have cars serviced or repaired there must feel a degree of comfort at the skill and bright ideas offered by the 'team'. Voting for a winner is really only to encourage visitors to fully appreciate the time and thought put into each tree. The real winner is the community spirit brought about by so many people meeting together.
Members of Bradworthy Parochial Church Council, meeting in January, decided to begin the process of selling the Church Hall.
After over four years of trying to find a solution to the problems associated with the hall, the worsening condition means that we left with no alternative. Several members of the public have expressed concern over the safety of the building and, apart from a legal responsibility for the safety of the general public; we want to avoid any possibility of the Rector and the PCC appearing in court as a consequence of a serious injury to a member of the public.
Basically the church cannot afford to maintain two ancient buildings. The Church Hall roof is in serious condition with many loose slates and leaks, the floor is rotten and needs replacing, bits of the ceiling have been falling down, the oil tank has corroded and we have no heat, the rendering is falling away from the walls, the walls are damp and the kitchen/toilet arrangement does not meet Environmental Health regulations. Just a few of the problems we must face to keep the place open for the general public.
People say that we should apply for a grant from some organisation. Well, that does sound a good idea. Sadly, because the church manages the hall we cannot claim any grant money. We could apply for a grant if a secular committee managed the hall, but in view of the wonderful grant given to the Memorial Hall it would be doubtful if any application would be successful. Anyway, such a committee would need a full business plan to justify the grant. On top of all that, if we did receive a grant leaving the church to find, say, £30,000 it would take a good ten years to raise that amount and in the meantime the main church building itself would have deteriorated further due to lack of maintenance.
The situation is serious and we have no alternative.
However, there is hope. This plan may not work out for there are many obstacles to overcome. Normally the Diocese of Exeter would invest any proceeds from such a sale and the interest given annually to the church concerned for the maintenance of the church building. Having said that, it may be possible, under certain conditions, to use all, or part of the money raised from the sale, to fund a major project within the church. If that is possible it seems an idea to re?order the back of the church to provide an area to be used for a range of activities and other facilities lost through the sale of the hall. For example, put a new floor in the tower for the bellringers and on the ground floor of the tower install a small kitchen to provide refreshments after services and concerts. We could also remove the wooden screen in the tower and replace it with a glazed screen letting natural daylight from the other tower window into the church. With movable chairs the seating capacity of the church would be increased by about thirty.
All this depends on being able to sell the hall at a reasonable amount and being able to use the money to re?order the church. There is a long way to go, but if it does work out, it will change a major problem into a wonderful opportunity.
If you would like to find out more or have any questions answered members of the PCC will be in church on Sunday afternoon, 18th February at 2.30pm.