Becoming

Godalming Minster

[REV 2 - 8 JUNE 2023]
DRAFT Pastoral Scheme for Godalming Minster

The Diocese of Guildford published the draft Pastoral Scheme in respect of the pastoral proposals affecting the benefices of Godalming, Busbridge, Hambledon and Farncombe.

Extract from the DIOCESE Letter to Interested Parties 8th June 2023

Anyone may make representations for or against all or any part or parts of the draft Scheme (please include the reasons for your views) by post or, preferably, by email to the Church Commissioners at the following address no later than midnight on Monday 24th July 2023.

Rex Andrew
Church Commissioners
Church House
Great Smith Street
London SW1P 3AZ
(email rex.andrew@churchofengland.org) (tel 020 7898 1743)

If they have not acknowledged receipt of your representation before this date, please ring or e-mail them to ensure it has been received. For administrative purposes, a petition will be classed as a single representation and they will only correspond with the sender of the petition, if known, or otherwise the first signatory for whom they can identify an address –

“the primary petitioner”.

If the Commissioners do not receive representations against the draft Scheme, they will make the Scheme and it will come into effect as it provides. A copy of the completed Scheme will be sent to you together with a note of its effective date.

If the Commissioners receive any representations against the draft Scheme, they will send them, and any representations supporting the draft Scheme, to the Bishop whose views will be sought. Individual representors and the primary petitioner will then receive copies of the Commissioners’ correspondence with the Bishop (including copies of all the representations). They and individual petitioners may comment further. Copies of all of the representations received and associated correspondence will normally be published on the Commissioners’ website if the matter needs to be considered by them.

Those making representations should indicate whether they would like an opportunity to speak to the Commissioners regarding their representations in the event the Commissioners decide a hearing should be held. Their meetings are normally held at Church House, Westminster, but during the current circumstances they may need to be held virtually via ‘Zoom’. If a hearing is held, they will let you know the arrangements for attending (in person or virtually) and details will also appear on their website. Otherwise, if a hearing is not to be held, the case will be considered in private and you will be informed accordingly.

When the Commissioners acknowledge representations they will let individual representors (and the primary petitioner) know the next few dates of their Committee’s meetings. They will confirm the actual date of any hearing nearer the time. The Commissioners will decide if the draft Scheme should proceed when they consider all the representations on the basis of a paper prepared by their staff and any points raised at the meeting. If the Commissioners do so decide, any representor or petitioner against the draft Scheme may seek leave from the Privy Council to appeal against the decision.

You will be informed of the Commissioners’ decision and the reasons for it.

Please see www.churchofengland.org/consultation for further information about the procedure.

PCC Secretaries, incumbents/priests-in-charge/rural deans, persons taking services during the Notice Period and local planning authorities should refer to the relevant notes below for important additional information concerning them.

Wendy Harris
DMPC Secretary
Diocese of Guildford

[October 2022] The Godalming Minster Evaluation process culminated in the votes by the three parishes of Busbridge, Hambledon and Godalming to unite and form the Godalming Minster, as of 1 January 2024.

This means that the Minster Evaluation process is complete, the transition process is underway. Over the next 12-14 months, Busbridge Church, Hambledon Church, St Peter and St Paul’s and St Mark’s, Ockford Ridge are working together on becoming Godalming Minster.

The Godalming Minster Steering Group meets every 2 months, and updates from those meetings and the PCC meetings can be found below:

The Godalming Parish PCC and Busbridge and Hambledon PCCs met on 13 March 2023 and approved the following proposals:

  • The service pattern for the 4 churches in the Godalming Minster. A final schedule of Minster wide services has been developed and is now agreed by all three PCCs. The schedule accommodates the needs of most congregations and provides for stability and growth. Inevitably compromise is required by the Sunday morning Choral and Contemporary congregations and this is genuinely appreciated. The pattern of services is as shown below. The focus so far has been on establishing the timing of specific services. Holy Communion services for the Contemporary service at 10.30am will be added shortly. The service pattern will begin in January 2024 for a trial period of 12 months, dependant on completion of the SPSP church re-ordering. It is anticipated there will be one off contemporary services held in SPSP during the 4Q 2023.

  • The 2023 Minster Budget for communications and media, and new Contemporary music equipment at SPSP.

  • The Parish Scheme to legally consolidate the parishes and charities, which will now go to Bishop Andrew for approval.

  • Godalming Parish PCC also approved the proposal and budget for the temporary re-ordering of St Peter and St Paul’s.

For fuller details about the points above, and news from the Minster Leadership Team, please read the full update.

For the background information, and the FAQs about the Minster, see the Evaluation and FAQ pages.

 
 

FIND US EVERY SUNDAY at St Peter & St Paul’s Church Street, Busbridge Church Brighton Road, St Mark’s Franklyn Road & Hambledon Church Lane and MID-WEEK at the the Old Rectory, Old Rectory Gardens GU7 1XB and the Yew Tree Café, Hambledon Road, GU7 1XB.