St James APCM Reports (2025)

About Us, Church life, Letter, Safeguarding, Sermon

Reports on this page:

  • Vicar’s Report
  • Churchwarden’s Report
  • Treasurer’s Report
  • Safeguarding Report
  • Deanery Synod Report
  • Environmental Report

Vicar’s Report

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

“Slaithwaite and Marsden are two places with a rich heritage and a great future” – thus wrote the Bishop of Huddersfield in the covering letter dated March 2019. “The congregations of these churches are fairly small, but together they have great potential to reach out, to serve their communities and to grow both numerically and spiritually.”

Due to the churches small sizes, and financial constraints on the Diocese of Leeds, it was felt that the Diocese could only afford to have a part-time priest back in 2019. This may have meant putting Marsden and Slaithwaite together with other parishes – however – Bishop Jonathan Gibbs had a vision to appoint a full time interim Vicar for an initial period of three years.

Bishop Jonathan had faith that, in appointing me, we could work together to have an impact in the heart of our communities, and that it was important that I spend at least 50% of my time building bridges and trust with people who have little time for Christian church.

Here we are, five years later, and look at how far we have come together: we have three vibrant church communities who have grown in faith, in service to our community, and in the number of people who worship God with us. In a recent visit from the new Bishop of Huddersfield, Bishop Smitha, she committed to appointing a full time permanent Vicar without extending the size of the Benefice. What a success story our Benefice has to share!

Over the last five years we have:

  • Welcomed and said goodbye to a self-supporting ordained priest, The Reverend Joanna Baxter Fielding. Joanna contributed significantly to our Christian life, before heading off to be the first female to be Priest-in-Charge of the Benefice of East Vale and Avon Villages.
  • Trained Alison Fisher as a Licensed Lay Minister, and also said goodbye as she left to serve the Totnes Mission Community
  • Trained and authorised Ali Baxter and David Corps as Lay Worship Leaders, and had expressions of interest from others within church. Ali Baxter is also trained and authorised as an Occasional Preacher.
  • Authorised Robert Haigh as a Lay Worship Leader at Shred
  • Approved Connor Taylor for Licensed Lay Minister training, to begin later this year.
  • Licensed Barbara Swift as Lay Pastoral Visitor.
  • Trained Jennifer Smith-Wignall Lay Pastoral Leader, and she will be licensed soon.
  • Launched a biweekly Taize worship and prayer service, led by Alison Gibson.
  • Launched ‘Sing-along-a-Monday’ at St Bartholomew’s, a community singing group led by Alison Gibson.
  • Launched a biweekly evening of creative contemplation at St James, led by Ali Baxter.
  • Barbara Swift has transformed St James ‘faith lunch’ into a community cafe and warm space, offering hot meals every Wednesday for up to 30 people and developed the gathering to include Jennifer Smith-Wignall’s ‘Words and Art for Wellbeing’, the Vicar’s Bible Study, and Helen Midwood’s singing group ‘The Hallelujahs’. Barbara and her team of wonderful volunteers have created space for people to meet, eat, and find companionship.
  • Grown a weekly community cafe from scratch in Marsden, initially started by Val France serving socially distanced tea and cake during Covid, this has grown to provide around 130 people with hot food, good company, a food share and a book share. Helen Haigh and her team of volunteers are financially supported by their successful community grant applications.
  • We have developed a flexible pattern of worship, and representatives of all three churches work together to plan services that ensure all three churches can be effectively served by a single parish priest.
  • I have continued my practice of saying Morning Prayer in public around our villages, as well as committing to Thursday mornings in St Bartholomew’s where we have morning prayer, or holy communion from the Book of Common Prayer.
  • In addition to the traditional services of holy communion on a Sunday at St James and St Bartholomew’s:
    • on the first Sunday of the month we have an All Age Eucharist in Marsden
    • and a Celebration Service of the Word in Slaithwaite which is blessed by the support of Sara Brown and Elaine Bradley
    • Shred has developed from Sunday School to a new all-family ‘Sundays @Shred’ which is led by Annis Mansaf with the invaluable support of retired clergy, the Reverend Martin Lowles. Shred have also developed a new ‘agape-style’ Family Service once a month which can happen in the morning or afternoon depending on the agreement of those who plan service.
  • I am deeply indebted to our organists and musicians, who have supported me by choosing the hymns and music that help us to worship every week. They have made themselves available for baptisms, weddings and funerals and have never failed to bring joy.
    • Jon Robinson has faithfully supported St Bartholomew’s playing the organ, and at St James playing the piano, including our mid-week Bible study and singing.
    • Alvy Whitehead has faithfully supported St James, playing the organ and choosing hymns.
    • We had the support of Lynne Blackburn playing the organ at Shred, who has recently stepped down and we are blessed that Anna Ferguson and Catherine Holmes have taken on her place, and we have the continued joy of Margaret Cook’s piano playing – such that Shred is blessed with great music for worship.
    • Elizabeth Foden has restarted the Music Group, who together enliven the worship at St James on the first Sunday of the month
  • I have been blessed to work alongside five dedicated church leaders, and I’m deeply grateful to Barbara and Tim Swift, Val France and Alison Gibson, and Annis Mansaf – and also to our PCCs and Shred committee, who have been a pleasure to share church governance with.
  • Barbara Swift and David Corps have served us all as Safeguarding Officers, putting in the work to help us be a safe space for everyone to worship.
  • We have been supported by Treasurers old and new, from Pat Burgess to Tracey Dawson, from Margaret Cook to Anna Bartys, and from Stuart Shaw to Diane Griffin: our churches have been and continue to be well served.
  • We have collaborated with United Reform, Methodist, Roman Catholic and Free Church leaders to provide Lectio Divina and ecumenical prayer.
  • There is an annual lay led retreat to Parcevall Hall open to everyone from the Benefice.
  • Thanks to a generous anonymous gift, we have repaired the bells at St Bartholomew’s. Don Lodge was tower captain, and with Elizabeth Foden and David Corps have begun to rebuild our bell ringing team.
  • There are many volunteers who have cleaned our churches, weeded and sorted the churchyards, set up flower decorations, created Easter gardens and crib scenes, led intercessions and read the Bible during church services – without whom so much of church life wouldn’t happen.
  • I have been honoured to be invited in to all five of our schools and have deeply loved serving as the foundation Governor at Slaithwaite Church of England Voluntary Controlled Infant and Junior School – or ‘Two Gates’ to use it’s nickname. I’m indebted to the welcome I received first from Headteacher Elaine Bradley, and then from her successor, Caroline Fowler. The whole school team have been wonderful, and Chris Hudson has been my closest partner in delivering a Christian ethos into the children’s lives.
  • Most significantly, we as a Benefice, have paid our Parish Share in full every year, and have committed to continuing this. Our Parish Share is not about paying for a Vicar, it is about our duty to support Christian ministry across the Benefice, Deanery, and Diocese of Leeds. Thanks to our contribution, the Gospel is shared in places which couldn’t possibly afford a parish priest.

While the story of our church is, to quote one Diocese of Leeds representative, “intimidating”; meaning that you have achieved so much as to be almost scary to those churches elsewhere who are struggling to achieve anything… there is also a parallel story. Bishop Jonathan asked me to spend 50% of my time reaching out the those sceptical about faith. I have been a visible priestly presence in our communities for five years. As I have cycled to meetings, I have become a familiar face to everyone who lives and works in the Colne Valley. I have spoken of the Good News of Jesus Christ in public and private, in season and out of season, in snow, rain and sunshine. I have spent time with those who don’t go to church breaking the hard ground of scepticism and sowing seeds of liberation and hope in Jesus. I have prayed without ceasing, and in the role of prophet I have physically stood in the wilderness and spoken to God about our people. I have pleaded the case for love and forgiveness asking God to transform the poverty of our lives by the riches of his grace – and I have met those whose lives are being transformed.

When I came here I said, ‘unless God builds this house, my work is in vain’. As I look back across five years of growth, I can see where God has been working his purpose out. I invite you to join with me in giving glory to God, to thank him for his goodness, and to continue to serve him with joy in our hearts.

I was drawn here by invitation; to be a bold and disruptive priestly character. My calling to Interim Ministry drew me to you, and I have been so deeply blessed to live here. As I look to see which interim post God calls me to next, there is a transparent opportunity to seek a new and permanent Vicar of Marsden and Slaithwaite, someone who will continue to encourage you in your gifts and ministry. I hope you find a priest who is gifted in shepherding new believers, teaching everyone about their calling as Christians, and honours the diversity of your worship.

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Graeme
The Reverend Graeme Holdsworth,
Interim Vicar of Marsden and Slaithwaite

Churchwarden’s Report

This year was dominated by a major leak in the central heating system, inconveniently under the floor of the entrance. Two heating engineering firms provided quote and ideas, the second of which was ingenious and successful and involved feeding a sleeve through the cast iron pipes. This cost about £8000. The other project was to mend two windows on the south side which were rattling in the wind and the first one fell apart on removal. The bill for this is around £4500. There is water ingress above the lintel on the right of the Good Samaritan window, damaging plasterwork and painting; this will need repairing. I have been recommended to get a timber survey of the roof to exclude beetles and rot. I have also been told we should replace missing roof tiles- this is a huge expense requiring scaffolding, and to complete renovation of the tower.

We hope to install noticeboards repurposed from the Methodists but have a grant for this. We also have to address the Church of England’s march towards Net Zero. To this end I hope to replace the strip lights with LEDs.

There are few grants and they are competitive and so hard work to apply for. The first stage in looking for a grant is to have a project, and this usually involves an architect. We then need competitive quotes and apply to the Diocese for permission (a faculty), a process often of to and fro negotiation. If anyone would like to help me with this, I would greatly appreciate it.

Finally, the government are removing VAT exemption (20%) for building work by places of worship. This will further increase any renovation costs.

We are approaching the end of Rev Graeme Holdsworth’s interim ministry and after Easter we will begin the process of applying for a new, and hopefully permanent, vicar. However, Graeme still has 10months left and we should celebrate this in every way possible.

Barbara and I took nearly 6weeks away in January and February. It is very difficult for us to be away for so long without feeling guilty. We are very dependent on Stuart Shaw being available- and willing, to fill the gap. It would be very helpful if someone might step forwards to very gradually “learn the ropes”

Tim and Barbara Swift

Treasurer’s Report

I would like to thank all those who have physically and financially supported the Church in 2024 which has again enabled us to pay our Parish Share in full. I would also like to thank Andrea Bamforth for being our Independent Examiner. Andrea checked over the Accounts and signed them off on 22nd January 2025 and these were presented to the P.C.C. on 20th February 2025 and approved. A copy of the Balance Sheet has been on the Notice Board since that date for anyone to peruse.

I set out below some essential figures as at 31st December 2024.

  • Total income Lloyds General a/c £52837
  • Total expenditure £57420
  • This shows we had a deficit of £4583.

This deficit has occurred because £8000 had been transferred to Y.B.S. Savings a/c.

  • Lloyds General a/c £13090
  • Y.B.S. Savings a/c £10785
  • Y.B.S. Restricted a/c £11148

As at 31st December 2024

Liabilities – NIL

Assets £35023

There are some Balance Sheets available which explain details of money going in and out of all the accounts.

Stuart A . Shaw, Treasurer as at 31st December 2024

Safeguarding Report

I am pleased to say there have been no safeguarding issues in this parish in the last year. I would encourage you all to renew your safeguarding training on the Leeds Diocese website every three years.

This is a letter sent to all safeguarding officers from the Bishops:

Dear Parish Safeguarding Officer,

We are writing to say thank you for the service you are giving to the church. Without you the local church simply couldn’t operate as a safe and welcoming community and we are very grateful for all you give. We know that this is not an easy time to be involved in safeguarding and that you carry a lot of responsibility in this role. The most recent debate at the General Synod in February brought to the surface a lot of the hurt and pain as well as complexity that exists and we know that for many of you it will have been a difficult time. Rightly, discussions have focused on how the Church of England as a whole can drive changes in safeguarding culture, protocols and practice in order to ensure everyone can have confidence in the systems in place. But we want to be clear that this does not take away from the vital and important work you do at a parish level which has developed very well over recent years and is already positive and effective. This has only happened because of the hard work and commitment of you and your PCCs. It is important to recognise and give thanks for this, even if there is always more that must be done.

In the Diocese of Leeds we remain committed to upholding the highest possible standards and working in partnership within the Church of England as it drives forward changes in safeguarding culture and process. Over the last year in this diocese we have been working hard on:

  • Improved reporting and management systems: we have changed the way we use our case management system to ensure it more comprehensively supports our work.
    Enhanced Safeguarding Governance: to improve accountability, independent scrutiny and challenge of our safeguarding work.
  • Increased capacity: we have recruited a new Head of Safeguarding as well as adding an additional Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor post to enable targeted proactive safeguarding work and help us better to respond to concerns and case management.
    Our Head of Safeguarding, Juliette McLellan, is driving forward change and improvement around how the team works. She is developing plans to:
  • run regular PSO support forums. These will cover DBS, training and shared best practice. They will also serve to provide ongoing support and enable communities of learning for PSOs.
  • provide targeted dashboard support to parishes and develop understanding of how to get the most out of them.
  • run a quarterly safeguarding newsletter, with information on upcoming events, training, national developments and policy.

True change will only happen if everyone shares responsibility for Safeguarding and we all work together. We are committed to supporting and helping those in parishes to make this happen and are enormously grateful for your work in keeping consistent with local processes towards a Safer Church and supporting individuals as concerns arise.

The Diocesan Safeguarding team are here to support you in your role, as are we, so please do get in touch if there is ever anything we can do.

Barbara Swift

Deanery Synod Report

The Diocese of Leeds (formerly Wakefield) is huge stretching up to Ripon in North Yorkshire. It is divided into “Deanery’s” and our Church and Benefice come under the Deanery of Huddersfield. The Deanery Synod meets 3 or 4 times a year and the members are the Parish Priests together with elected Lay Representatives from each Parish.

Deanery Synod is a means of communication between the individual Churches and the Leeds Diocesan Synod. Leeds and other Diocesan Synods are in turn the means of communication between the Deaneries and the overarching Church of England Synod.

Any issues anyone feels strongly about affecting the life of the church can be put forward for discussion through the Deanery Synod and the Diocesan Synod, no matter how contentious. For example, a recent motion was asked to be put forward regarding the sharing of the common cup in Holy Communion which some people were concerned about.

Matters re Area Mission, Pastoral functions, Teaching programmes, Learning and Training Opportunities and other items are presented. A recent presentation being on the Environmental and Climate Crisis drastically affecting the whole of God’s creation, and the Church of England’s commitment to take a lead by working towards being Carbon Net Zero in all our Churches and other properties by 2030.

Linn Clegg

Environmental Report

Revd Canon Debby Plummer gave a powerful presentation to Deanery Synod focusing on the climate and ecological emergency, including the impact of 130 wars around the world and all the harmful emissions created by man, melting the icecaps, raising sea levels (which are also polluted with plastic wastes), how extreme weather events are having a significant impact on the whole of creation and driving communities around the world from their homelands or taking away their livelihoods.

As Christians believing that all of creation belongs to God and we are all equal under God, the Church of England have made a commitment to set a good example and work towards all their properties being Carbon net zero by 2030.

It was explained at Deanery Synod how churches can work towards certification as Eco churches, find green Christian resources (including updated hymns) and start to address the particularly difficult environmental issues: our lifestyles and making our buildings efficient. There are some grants available to assist – though as Tim is well aware, actually getting a grant is no easy matter – you need to be a gymnast to jump through all the hoops – even more so as a Grade II Listed Building.

I have agreed to take on the role of Parish Environment Officer and lead the way in encouraging us in our own lifestyles and in our Church and got a small team together.
We are enrolled on the Eco-Church Survey, have had an energy opportunity survey done, got befuddled by all the duplicitous and confusing Diocesan information, started in the small things, currently looking at changing all the strip lighting to LED (more complicated than it sounds) and am doing an 8 week course with the Diocese entitled “Saving Creation – Silver”.

I have my limitations and am not perfect, but with a willing heart and the help of God, I will do my best – and ask you all please to do your best to:

  • reduce waste,
  • wash and recycle your glass, plastic and cans,
  • Supermarkets now have containers to return all your soft plastic.
  • Nields School recycle many items.
  • re-use whatever you can,
  • support charity shops – buy pre-loved items.
  • be prayerfully thoughtful in all your purchases and ask – how will this affect the environment?
  • Think about your own household emissions – consider solar panels, check out grants for Heat Pumps.
  • drive and fly less often,
  • In the church kitchen – please try to buy only ecologically sound detergents etc,
  • and finally, please note that the PCC have agreed to work towards being a FAIR TRADE Church, which is in line with Diocesan Synod recommendation. Fair Trade prioritises people and the planet over profit, promoting sustainable development and justice for the most marginalised producers, especially those in the Global South.

Linn Clegg