Thurnham Crisis meeting at church Parish News
INADEQUATE leadership, the lack of lay support and the rural nature of Thurnham village were jointly to blame for falling rolls at St Mary’s Church, a public meet- ing heard. More than 100 people packed
Meetings normally held on the third Monday of each month at the Marriott Tudor Park Hotel. Public welcome.
CHAIRMAN:Daniel Skinner CLERK: Sherrie Babington 01634 867173
Writing to residents REV John Corbyn told the parish council he would be writing to all parishioners to clarify certain misconceptions. Sunday services are to be re- instated on the first and third Sundays in the month, at 11.15am. The parish council is keen to see a new PCC ap- pointed as soon as possible and has pledged to give its full sup- port. The vicar told the meeting he
was only supposed to devote one tenth of his time to St Mary's Church and the parish council was to seek clarifica- tion on this.
into St Mary’s Church, in Thurn- ham Lane, for a crunch meeting on whether or not the church should close. The Archdeacon of Maidstone, Canon Stephen Taylor, who chaired the meeting, said it was clear there was support for the church. However, the question was in what capacity and who was prepared to take a share of the responsibility. By the end of the 90-minute meeting, more than 20 people had said they were prepared to act as sidesmen so the church could open for Sunday services twice each month. Canon Taylor said: “It is not anyone’s wish or desire to close this church. It is certainly not the wish of the Diocese. We want it to carry on as a place of worship. From the numbers here I feel it may be your desire to retain the church forworship.” The meeting was called after
some 300 people signed a peti- tion opposed to the closure of the church, which no longer has a Parochial Church Council (PCC) or churchwardens.
Local resident and conserva-
tionist Felicity Simpson said the church, a Grade 1 listed heritage building, was widely recognised as the jewel in the parish crown. She said:“Wemust try to involve peoplewhowere in the parish, as well as those who are. There is a general feeling that this church must be preserved as a place of worship and to become a focus for the community of Thurn- ham.” The lack of parkingwas said to
be a problem, the meeting heard, although it had not prevented 100 people turning out for last month’smeeting. Bob Gee, who described him-
self as a “friend of Thurnham Church”, said the success of a church depended on the person- ality of the incumbent and the church should look at appointing someone who would “work up” the parish.
Jennifer Crickwell- Porter, amem- ber of the PCC in the 70s, said most ac- tivities con- centrated on Holy Cross, Bearsted, and there was a suggestion that lay mem-
bers could share duties. Richard Hodges, a member of
the PCC for 18 years, claimed: “The breakdown of the existing PCCwas due to the eccentricities of the existing incumbent.” However, this was denied by outgoing PCC secretary Peter Packham who said: “I refute that the PCC could not workwith the vicar. The congregation and the PCC have diminished through natural wastage.” The vicar of St Mary’s – and
Holy Cross, Bearsted – Rev John Corbyn was at the meeting, but did not speak. Canon Taylor urged thosewho
had put themselves forward as sidesmen to work together as the foundation of the church’s future. He said: “We will ensure you have the best support, so you do not feel isolated and hope and pray we do not find ourselves back here in five years’ time.”
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