What’s the Vision?
During 2024 the parishes consolidated the idea of
Working Together to Create Opportunities for Positive Encounters
Central to this goal is the aspiration of developing an atmosphere of Love & Support in each of our parishes.
Early in 2025 the Vision – and its outworking – is to be revisited by each Parochial Church Council (PCC).
Did We Make Some Progress in 2024?
As I’ve said before, community life is a team game and so the sudden passing of the well-liked & well-respected Bishop of Buckingham, Rt. Rev. Alan Wilson, in Feb 2025 was a shock to us all. He & his family remained in our prayers throughout the year. I am so grateful, though, for all our folk! Without the hard work of church members and other volunteers – offered out of the goodness of their hearts – nothing would be possible. My sincere thanks to all who make our communities better places.
And, in 2024, one example of this was the good engagement with the Church School at Marsworth – which is extending its provision to accept even younger children. There was also good engagement with the Windmill pre-School in Ivinghoe and Pitstone (I&P) – which will soon have a branch opening in Marsworth! And some encouraging contact with Brookmead School. Sandra Green’s exceptional work with young families in Ivinghoe and Pitstone developed. And the informal Sunday Breakfast service in Slapton Village Hall continued to be small but lively!
Weddings, Funerals and Baptisms all provided good opportunities to show something of God’s love to people that we don’t see often on a Sunday morning. And we appreciated the augmented congregations for our services in Holy Week and at Easter, Harvest, Remembrance and Christmas. I hope folk know that they are always welcome.
Each church held successful fundraising events – some with a partner organisation: Ivinghoe Summer Fete (with Scouts & Daisy Chain Café) and Music-a-thon (with Beacon Choir & others); the Steam Rally & Fun Run at Marsworth; the Summer Fete, Film Club, Quizzes & Murder Mystery at Slapton.
I also need to mention the somewhat hidden work of the Foodbanks – whose discreet service provides support for families and individuals experiencing real need. The Foodbanks are administered through the PCCs of I&P and Marsworth – and were resourced by grants (including from Buckinghamshire County Council) as well as generous private donations.
The Vicar’s Book Club (which also included the Lent Group & Advent Group) attracted a core of folk throughout the year. And eventually followed the example of the Slapton Prayer Lunches – meeting in people’s homes rather than the Village Hall.
The “A Church Near You” website www.achurchnearyou.com continues to cover all our Parish Churches.
Other highlights in the year included
- The summer filming at Ivinghoe of Hugh Jackman’s movie, “Three Bags Full”.
- A group from Slapton dining with their patrons at Christ Church, Oxford
- John White being made Churchwarden Emeritus for all his service at Marsworth
Looking Forward
I maintain that a crucial idea going forward is to dethrone the concept that our churches exist to “get people to come to services”. Obviously, I like it when folk come to worship God with us but perhaps a more outward-looking focus might be to identify partners that we can work with in order to make our parishes better places.
Partners will be individuals or groups with whom we have some shared goals and values – and with whom we have (or feel able to develop) relationships of mutual support, trust and respect.
Rev. James Grainger-Smith
Vicar of Ivinghoe with Pitstone, Slapton and Marsworth
March 2025