As was mentioned during the last Deanery Synod, the recent London Diocesan Synod election has left the Hounslow Deanery with 3 clergy and 3 lay member vacancies unfilled. We are now looking to fill these slots with a by-election. If you or someone you know would like to represent our Deanery on the Diocesan Synod then please do complete a nomination form.
Below are the links to the nomination forms for this election, along with the formal notice of an election as required by the synod regulations. Please do review these forms and nominate those who you think would best serve both the Deanery and the wider Diocese. It’s worth noting that per voting regulations nomination forms can be received via email, in person or via post to the details listed only. All nominations must be received by the 25th February 2022..
If we receive more nominations than vacancies, this will be followed by an election and, if required, voting forms will be sent out on the morning of the 28th of February..
The formal notice of an election is here The Nomination form for clergy is here The Nomination form for lay members is here
I hope that you have all had a good Christmas, taken some time off and are looking forward to a new year of ministry in 2022! It was a pity that the Chapter Christmas lunch got cancelled but I’m hoping very much that we can all get together for an in-person Chapter in two weeks’ time and a party in February. Then, we’ll have a summer Chapter lunch at The Royal Oak in June.
Here’s the plan:
Tuesday 11am 18 January – in-person Chapter meeting at Hope Church Hounslow with Rev Claire Clarke
Christmas stories – things that went a bit wrong as well as things that went well
Tips on tools that help us get organised – personally and as teams
Deanery news and things coming up
Thurs 10 Feb 7.30pm CHAPTER PARTY at my place – 60 Elmwood Rd W4 3DZ
Thurs 17 Feb 2pm Online Chapter meeting Peter Vannozzi will tell us about the new discernment process for potential ordinands, involving Grids, Traffic Lights and Carousels.
Mental Health First Aider training The Diocese is offering parishes the opportunity to have one person trained as a Mental Health First Aider. This will enable the MHFA to recognise the symptoms of mental ill health; to provide initial help, on a first-aid basis; to signpost appropriate professional support; to be aware of their own mental health and well-being; and to understand how to use the MHFA framework within theological frames of reference and pastoral contexts.
The course comprises four half days of training, which should be completed reasonably close together.
Hounslow Deanery is being offered an in-person course for up to 16 people on Tues 10 May, Thurs 12 May, Tues 17 May and Thurs 19 May at 9.30am-1.30pm.
Would you, or someone else from your church, like to attend the course? If so, please let me know.
GROW course Just a reminder that, if you and your church have not done this, it’s definitely worth considering. More info here: https://ccx.org.uk/grow-course/
Welcare Trust The trustees meet again at the end of March so January/February would be a great time to reflect on funding needs for work in the community and see if this charity can help you. More info here.
Deanery synod – Introduction to LLF resources – Thursday 24 Feb 7.30-9.00pm Rev Jody Stowell, Vicar of St Michael & All Angels in Harrow, and Rebeccah Cooper-Jones, professional mediator, will facilitate an introduction to the Living in Love and Faith resources that have been produced recently. The hope is for people in Church of England churches across the country to use these resources to study and pray together. This church-wide learning together, listening to one another, and listening to God is intended to enable the Church of England to discern a way forward in relation to matters of identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage. Please do try to join this session – all voices need to be heard.
Prayer Please continue to pray for the well-being, both physical and mental, of clergy and church leaders.
It was lovely to see many of you at this week’s Synod and I hope that you enjoyed the meeting as much as I did, and our speaker, Rev Derek Winterburn. The minutes of the meeting are available and include a link to Derek’s slides, please do reach out to me if you need a copy. Do let me know if you have any questions or notice any changes needed in the minutes.
Our next Synod meeting is currently pencilled in for the 24th February and will be held over zoom. Closer to the time, we will confirm this date and send over the meeting details. Please do keep this date in your diary and do let me know if you have any items that you would like to be considered for the agenda.
Chapter Christmas Lunch
Those of you who have attended in the past may remember what fun our Clergy Christmas Lunches are. This year we’ve booked the Royal Oak, 128 Worton Rd, Isleworth TW7 6EP for the 16th of December at 12.30pm. They’re offering a fabulous Christmas Menu with 2 courses for £25 or 3 courses for £28 and the deanery will be paying for all the drinks.
We need to pre-order and space is limited so please RSVP by reaching out to me to select your menu choices.
With thanks,
Kathleen McQuarrie Hounslow Deanery Secretary
Hounslow Welcare Trust The Houslow Welcare Trustexists to make grants to help Deanery churches. The next trustees meeting is at the end of November – take a look at the criteria and get in touch if you’re interested.
Diocesan Synod
Following the recent election, Hounslow Deanery still has 3 lay vacancies and 3 clergy vacancies. Please do think about whether you could contribute in this way and get in touch if you have any questions.
Lay Chair Election The results are in and we welcome Simon Surtees from St Paul’s Chiswick as the new Lay Chair. Our deepest thanks to Fred Michell, who is stepping down and served as the Hounslow Lay Chair for almost 20 years!
Just a quick message from your friendly neighbourhood secretary. The October Deanery Synod is in less than a week, and the first Synod to be held in person since the start of the pandemic. We’ll be meeting on Monday 25 October at St Michael’s Church, Elmwood Road W4 3DY. Don’t forget that we’re starting with the Lay Reps meeting at 6.30pm, with clergy welcome to join for refreshments from 7pm.
If you are planning to attend and have not yet received the meeting pack including both the agenda and minutes from the June meeting, then please reach out to me here.
Please make sure to mark the 25th of October into your diary and I look forward to seeing you all there!
WhatsApp Groups
The Deanery now offers WhatsApp groups for clergy, PCC Secretaries, Treasurers, and Churchwardens. They’re a great resource for problem solving and sharing solutions with others, do let me know if you would like to join one of these groups!
Kathleen McQuarrie Hounslow Deanery Secretary
Hounslow Welcare Trust The Houslow Welcare Trustexists to make grants to help Deanery churches. The next trustees meeting is coming at the end of November – take a look at the criteria and get in touch if you’re interested.
New Triennium Starts Soon!
If you would like to nominate someone for the Deanery Synod Standing Committee (even yourself), please out to me or our Area Dean, Martine. Both clergy and lay members are needed.
Lay Chair Election The election for the new Lay Chair is now well underway and all Lay Reps should now have been sent voting papers via the post. Please make sure to have your paper returned by the 22nd to have it counted!
As you may remember, the October Synod meeting marks the beginning of a new triennium with the election of a new Lay Chair. If you would like to stand, or know someone who you think would be a good candidate, then please complete a nomination form and return it to Kat by email to pa@hounslowdeanery.org.uk NO LATER THAN 6 October.
The Deanery Synod Meeting is still planned for Monday 25 October, with the section for Lay representatives starting at 6.30pm. Clergy will join from 7pm for refreshments followed by Holy Communion (sharing bread only) at 7.30pm. Following this, Rev Derek Winterburn, Vicar of St James’s Church Hampton Hill, will facilitate a conversation about how we are caring for God’s creation. Finally, we’ll have some brief notices and the appointment or election of our Deanery Synod Standing Committee. An agenda will be sent round nearer the time.
We have had to change the date for the October Deanery Synod meeting and we will now been meeting on Monday 25 October (NOT 28 Oct.) The meeting will still be IN-PERSON and still be held at St Michael’s Church, Elmwood Road W4 3DY.
Lay representatives, please do come for 6.30pm for the Lay Only Meeting (no clergy please!) to elect the next Lay Chair. Everyone is welcome from 7pm for refreshments followed by Holy Communion (sharing bread only) at 7.30pm. Following this, Rev Derek Winterburn, Vicar of St James’s Church Hampton Hill, will facilitate a conversation about how we are caring for God’s creation. Finally, we’ll have some brief notices and the appointment or election of our Deanery Synod Standing Committee. An agenda will be sent round nearer the time.
Please remember! The Hounslow Deanery Common Fund Meeting is still going ahead by Zoom on the 5th of October, 7.00-8.30pm. Do invite anyone in your church who you feel would benefit from attending and I look forward to seeing you there! If you would like the zoom detail for this meeting then please reach out to Kat here.
Warmest wishes and God bless,
Martine Oborne Area Dean
Hounslow Welcare Trust The Houslow Welcare Trustexists to make grants to help Deanery churches. The next trustees meeting is coming soon – take a look at the criteria and get in touch if you’re interested.
New Triennium Starts Soon! If you would like to nominate someone for the Deanery Synod Standing Committee (even yourself), please out to me or Kat. Both clergy and lay members are needed.
Christian Mindfulness and Contemplative Prayer This course comprises two Thursday morning sessions on 7 & 14 October at St Peter’s Church in Southfield Rd W4. Please contact Fabrizio Pesce to find out more. Or book here.
As many of you know, I have recently been appointed as Hounslow Area Dean. Thank you so much to everyone who has sent good wishes and offers of support. I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the role and I hope that our Deanery Synod meetings will be both enjoyable and helpful to your ministry and mission.
I am the Vicar of St Michael’s Church in Chiswick where I’ve been in post for ten years now. Before this, I served my curacy in Islington and, before that, I had a career in the City. I’m married to Peter and we have five children, but with only one still at school.
A new triennium! We are at the start of a new three year cycle of Deanery Synod meetings, so this is an ideal time to have a rethink about what we do and why. If you’ve got any comments or suggestions, please be in touch.
I’m hoping that we’ll be able to focus on some of the new Kensington Area priorities such as: mission in the community; the environment; ministry to children and youth; and mental health and wellbeing. If you would like to play a role on the Deanery Synod Standing Committee, possibly as a rep for one of these priorities, do please let me know. We need both clergy and lay members. Standing Committee meets three times a year by Zoom and is responsible for planning events, talks and the agenda at the Deanery Synod meetings.
Next Deanery Synod meeting – Thursday 28 October – IN-PERSON at St Michael’s Church, Elmwood Road W4 3DY at 7pm I am looking forward to meeting and welcoming reps, particularly new ones, to Deanery Synod at this first session. Do please join us if you can.
We’ll start first with a Deanery Meeting of Lay Representatives at 6.30pm to elect our Lay Chair. Then there will be refreshments at 7pm for both lay and clergy reps, followed by Holy Communion (sharing bread only) at 7.30pm. Then Derek Winterburn, Vicar of St James’s Church Hampton Hill, will facilitate a conversation about how we are caring for God’s creation. Finally, we’ll have some brief notices and the appointment or election of our Deanery Synod Standing Committee. An agenda will be sent round nearer the time.
Subsequent Deanery Synod meetings The new Deanery Synod Standing Committee will meet in November and make plans. We will probably have a Deanery Synod meeting by Zoom in February and an in-person one in June.
Welcare applications Applications for grants for community projects are welcome. If they are submitted by 15 November, they will be considered at the next meeting of trustees on 29 November. More information and application forms can be found here.
I look forward to seeing you soon. Warmest wishes and God bless,
Resignation of The Revd Sarah Guinness as Hounslow Area Dean
Sarah Guinness has been a wonderful colleague and friend to many of us during this past year as she has so ably carried the role of Hounslow Area Dean. Bishop Graham asked Sarah to take on the task at the beginning of 2020 and she agreed to serve for a year to see how it sat alongside settling into her time at Brentford. Little did she, or any of us, know what that ‘initial year’ would involve!
As the new Archdeacon (and her predecessor in Hounslow, of course), I have had good reason to be grateful for her willingness to say ‘yes’ and I know that her fellow Hounslow clergy, the other Area Deans and Bishop Graham have felt the same.
This week, Sarah has decided, after much consideration, not to continue as Area Dean. She wants to focus her time and energy on the parish of Brentford as she anticipates a new curate starting this summer, the reopening of the St Paul’s café and plenty else in the pipeline. I know you will join me in praying for her in this next chapter of her ministry and time in Brentford. We are very glad to continue as her colleagues and partners in ministry and mission.
Bishop Ric (Acting Bishop of Kensington) and I feel that appointing a new Hounslow Area Dean should be for Bishop Graham on his return. I am grateful therefore that Elis Matthews, at St Mary’s Osterley Road, who has been Assistant Area Dean for much of the past year, has agreed to continue in that role and ‘hold the fort’ until the summer. When Bishop Graham returns, he will consult with the Chapter and make his decision on whom to appoint longer term.
In the meantime, may I thank you for all you have done over these past months to pray for, minister to and lead your churches through the astonishingly difficult and tiring time we have been living through. Please do be in touch if I can support you and those you serve in any way.
Every blessing
The Ven. Richard Frank 19th May 2021 cc. Bishop Graham; Bishop Ric; Fred Michell (Hounslow Deanery Lay Chair)
For you quick access, below is the most recent information on the new lockdown and how they pertain to Churches.
Regulations – we are sure you’ll have all seen over night that the regulations went live (available here). They set out:
that you can leave home to attend a Place of Worship
how Places of Worship can open for a number of specific purposes i.e. for individual prayer and funerals etc – each purpose will be explained in the guidance. Relevant extract from the regulations below:
“(7) A person who is responsible for a place of worship must ensure that the place of worship is closed, except for uses permitted in paragraph (8) and regulation 11(18).
(8) A place of worship may be used—(a) for funerals,(b) for commemorative events celebrating the life of a person who has died,(c) to broadcast an act of worship, whether over the internet or as part of a radio or television broadcast,(d) to provide essential voluntary services or urgent public support services (including the provision of food banks or other support for the homeless or vulnerable people, blood donation sessions or support in an emergency),(e) for childcare provided by a person registered under Part 3 of the Childcare Act 2006,(f) for individual prayer, and for these purposes, “individual prayer” means prayer by individuals which does not form part of communal worship, or(g) to host any gathering which is permitted under regulation 8 or 9.
(9) A person who is responsible for a community centre or hall must ensure that the community centre or hall is closed except where it is used—(a) to provide essential voluntary activities or urgent public support services (including the provision of food banks or other support for the homeless or vulnerable people, blood donation sessions or support in an emergency),(b) for the purposes of education or training,(c) for the purposes of support groups, or(d) for the purposes of—(i) childcare provided by a person registered under Part 3 of the Childcare Act 2006, or(ii) supervised activities for children.(10) A person who is responsible for a crematorium or burial ground must ensure that the crematorium or burial ground is closed to members of the public, except—(a) for funerals or burials,(b) commemorative events celebrating the life of a person who has died, or(c) to allow a person to pay respects to a member of their household, a family member or friend.“
Q&A – We thought it would be helpful to share the answers to these with you:
Who can be involved in the broadcast from a place of worship?
Attending a place of worship for broadcasting or filming an act of worship is permitted but should only involve those people working or volunteering who are essential for the content of the service, and for technical support to enable people to watch and worship online or via a television or radio.
If musicians or singers usually form part of the act of worship that is being broadcast, they may participate but only if they are essential to the delivery of that act of worship. The numbers or people involved should be kept as small as possible to minimise risks and participants should follow social distancing guidance.
What about Out of School Setting activities for children?
The guidance from DfE covering off the impact of the new national restrictions on the education sector has just been published here
As such, out-of-school activities may continue to operate if their primary purpose is either/and/or:
providing registered childcare
offering other childcare activities, where this is reasonably necessary to enable parents to work or search for work or undertake training or education
for respite care, including for vulnerable children.
to be primarily used by home educating parents as part of their arrangements for their child to receive a suitable full-time education (which could include, for example, tuition centres, supplementary schools, or private tutors).
Youth support services, including 1-1 youth work and support groups, may also continue to operate.
All other out of school activities, not being primarily used by parents for these purposes, should close for face-to-face provision for the duration of the national restrictions.
What constitutes a support group such as continue to take place in a Place of Worship?
To ensure support for the most vulnerable during this period, support groups that provide mutual aid, therapy or any other form of support can take place with up to 15 people attending, if the support group is organised by a business, a charitable, benevolent or philanthropic institution or a public body.
Examples include support to:
victims of crime (including domestic abuse);
those with, or recovering from, addictions (including alcohol, narcotics or other substance addictions) or addictive patterns of behaviour;
new parents;
those with, or caring for persons with, any long-term illness or terminal condition or who are vulnerable;
those facing issues related to their sexuality or identity including those living as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender;
those who have suffered bereavement; and
vulnerable young people, including to enable them to meet youth workers.
Anyone working is not included as part of the 15 person limit.
Hope this is helpful and do reach out to myself or Rev Sarah if you have any specific questions that aren’t answered in these documents.
To assist churches to function in line with the latest COVID requirements the following advice documents, together with relevant FAQs have now been updated on the Church of England Advice page.
Please note that this advice is currently issued in draft form, awaiting confirmation of the exact wording of government guidance for places of worship on the use of face coverings. The guidance may change as the situation evolves and we’ll let you know as soon as we’re sent the final versions.
