In response to the recent retiring collection for the Missions to Seamen I received the following letter from the Southern Regional Director at Littlehampton, The Reverend Philip Elston.
'Will you please convey to everyone associated with St George's Church, Waterlooville, our sincere appreciation and thanks for the generous donation given in support of our ministry to seafarers and their families.
'The year 1998 came in like a lion with the first of the winter gales. As I knelt at evening prayer in my local church on the first Sunday of the year, my heart went out to the 10 Spanish seamen who had just been airlifted from their ship 200 miles off the Cornish coast. The ship was threatening to capsize and I tried to imagine how frightened the seamen must have been knowing that in those stormy conditions there was little hope for them if the ship sank before the air-sea rescue operation could be mounted. My mind then went back 40 years to the winter gales of 1958 in the Mediterranean and I remembered the chief cook being hurled half the length of the ship by a mountainous wave that left him with a fractured pelvis and much else besides. It was 10 days before he could be landed and subsequently he was invalided out of the Navy.
'Storm force winds are no respecters of persons and for the seafarer in 1998 life at sea remains a hazardous occupation. It is the particular responsibility of The Missions to Seamen to ensure, on behalf of the Church, that everything that can be done to care for seafarers and their families (in all weathers) will be done. Thank you for sharing in that caring.'
I felt it particularly appropriate to reproduce the letter as Portsmouth has so recently hosted The International Festival of the Sea. Our donations to charity, however large or small, are very much appreciated by all the organisations we support and please remember the receipts and / or letters of acknowledgement are always displayed on either the church or hall noticeboards for everyone to see.
I have been asked to summarise what happens to the Wednesday morning tea and coffee sales income. The profit is banked each month, the total for 1998 up to and including the month of August is£268.08, and then specific charities or causes are nominated by the ladies who run it in consultation with the Vicar, or perhaps taking on board suggestions from others who support the weekly gathering. At the beginning of the year there was a build up of funds from 1997 and £200 was sent to St Luke's Hospital for the Clergy. Since then £50 has been given to the hall in recognition of heat, light and power used, £50 sent to the Church Army and £50 to the Royal United Kingdom Benefit Association, both in memory of the late Betty Keyte, and a further £50 transferred to the Pat Anderson Memorial Noticeboard fund. This leaves in excess of £100 for allocation in the coming months.
If anyone would like me to enlarge on other specific details of church finances please let me know.
Now a few more facts and figures!
The August retiring collection for the Rowans Hospice amounted to£147.75. The fees due to the new Church Architect Roger Boyce for carrying out the Quinquennial Survey and Report were£293.75. Donations for the noticeboard in memory of Pat Anderson reached£206.50 and this paid for the work including fitting of a new hardwood surround still awaited at the time of going to print. Finally as Church Treasurer I have enrolled in a newly formed group called ACAT (The Association of Church Treasurers and Accountants) offering guidance and support for Church Treasurers and Examiners at a cost of £22.50 for the first year to include a handbook with updates and training to assist with my duties.
written by Linda Wainwright, Hon. Treasurer
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page last updated 4 OCTOBER 1998