ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING - 29 MAY 2012

The Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) will take place after the 10.00am service on Sunday 29 April. Please do attend if at all possible – this is such an important meeting. Could you be willing to serve the parish in some capacity? Nomination forms will be appearing at the back of church for electing Churchwardens, and members of the Parochial Church Council (PCC). Please that we have not had representatives on the North Wirral Deanery Synod for some considerable time. The Reps attend three to four meetings at local churches and are added to our PCC – it would be fantastic if we could finally fill these roles. Also at the meeting we need to elect our sidespersons – could you pare a couple of Sunday a month?

Fun with Flowers!!

A flower-arranging course for all-comers – man, woman or child, beginner or improver – is to be held in the Church Centre at 7.30pm on six consecutive Tuesdays, starting on April 17. Entitled ‘Fun and Friendship with Flowers,’ the course will be run by Brenda Gande, who holds the City & Guilds Diploma in Flower Arranging and is a judge. The course costs £18 for the six sessions with proceeds going to St Hildeburgh’s charities. For more details or to book a place, see Brenda or email her on brendagande@yahoo.co.uk

Concert in Church - 19 May 2012 - Vale Royal Singer

In May we welcome once more to St Hildeburgh's the Vale Royal Singers, from Cheshire, with an attractive programme for an enjoyable evening of family entertainment.  

The 'Best of British' is the theme of the concert by the 20 strong choir that takes its name from Vale Royal Abbey near Northwich,  its first rehearsal venue. Under the leadership of  Margaret Corlett,  well known in the Chester area as a choral director,  teacher  and accomplished pianist,  the choir will mark  the diamond jubilee with some coronation and royal wedding pieces.  These will include Parry's  exhilarating anthem 'I was glad' and ' Zadok the Priest' by Handel, German born but a naturalised Englishman in 1726.. 

In a lighter mood John Rutter's delightful arrangement of folk song ' Sprig of Thyme' follows, and accompanist Brian Heald, organist at Chester's Wesley Methodist Church, will play organ and piano solos.

Interludes to suit the mood will be readings by children's author and choir member David Whitley of light poetry and prose .

We look  forward to the group's return after their visit here four years ago ,when their theme was 'From Seashore to River Bank' and included  a charming mini version of 'The Wind in the Willows ,' and hope for good support from church members, families and friends.    

Come along at 7pm (note early start) on Saturday May 19.   Tickets including refreshments are £7;  with free entry for children  and family concessions, obtainable from Gwen on 632 3042 or at  the door.  As before, The Children's Society will benefit from the proceeds.    

Wirral Festival of Firsts

Once again we will be taking part in this excellent initiative. More details will follow, but so far it is planned that the WIRRAL UKELE ORCHESTRA will make a welcome return to St. Hildeburgh's and there will be a performance of TRIAL BY JURY in church.

New Deputy Warden - Jane

It is good to be able to announce that Jane Langley is joining the ‘wardenly team’ as a deputy warden.

Church Boiler - Expensive Work Needed!

The wardens raised at a recent meeting of the PCC the aged nature and at times unreliability of the church’s boiler. The cost of replacement will be well in excess of ten thousand pounds – clearly beyond our current financial situation. Some hard fundraising looks like being necessary.

Ladies Guild

Our Ladies’ Guild, which does so much to keep St Hildeburgh’s bright and beautiful with flowers, elected two new officers at its recent AGM. Jackie Surridge is now chairman and Brenda Gande is the new treasurer. The guild extended profound thanks to the retiring chairman, Maureen Weed, and treasurer, Noreen Howey, who had both done so much to ensure the guild’s smooth and efficient running over many years. For guild matters, contact Jackie, Brenda or Joyce Reade, who remains as secretary.

Leas School War Memorials

The memorials to the old boys of the Leas School who lost their lives in the world wars were given to the parish when the school was demolished. They have lain neglected for many years. The Diocese has given provisional approval for the memorials to be placed on the North wall of the church near the main door. A faculty has been applied for. Once final approval has been granted, donations to cover the cost of the work will be sought from old boys of the school. Paul Irvine has very kindly and generously agreed to oversee the work and paperwork.

Archdeacon's Visitation 9 May

St. Hildeburgh's will be hosting one of the Archdeacon's Visitations this year on the evening of the 9 May 2012. We look forward to welcoming the many clergy, churchwardens and others who will attend this most important event.

New Vicar for Hoylake

We are very pleased to be able to announce that the new Vicar of Hoylake will be 

 Rev'd Paul Rossiter

We look forward to welcoming him to the parish in the very near future