The History of Churchwardens and my time as Churchwarden at St. Matthias

The ancient office of Churchwarden dates back to 12th century times and is the only lay office within the Church of England, from which those elected cannot resign without the permission of the Diocesan Bishop as they are legally appointed, under oath before a barrister and an Archdeacon, for the term of one year. Churchwardens are in effect the officers of the Bishop, responsible for all matters legal to do with the Church and the parish. Their 'badge of office' is a staff known as a 'wand' which is carried at all times when the Bishop is in procession at a service. This tradition dates from the times when it was necessary to protect the Bishop and to ensure his safe passage when visiting a parish. To prevent him being mobbed by an over enthusiastic or hostile crowd, the Churchwardens carried staves to keep the people at a safe distance. The legal powers of Churchwardens are clearly defined in Canon Law and Acts of Parliament and are quite far-reaching although today many have fallen into disuse.

In the early days Churchwardens were responsible for administration of the poor law, the distribution of alms to the poor and the allocation of 'alms-houses'. Under the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Act there still exists a power of arrest given to Churchwardens to use against any person who disrupts an act of public worship or for ' riotous behaviour in the church yard.'

So much for the brief history and legal responsibilities of Churchwardens.

Apart from a short break of two years from 1992 - 1994 I have been Churchwarden at St. Matthias since 1978. I have never felt weighed down or over-awed by the history or legal responsibilities the office carries. The life and work of a modern day Churchwarden is a far cry from the days of fending off crowds from mobbing the Bishop. It has more to do with ensuring the smooth running of the Church, the welfare of the parish priest and making sure that the Church building is properly maintained in a state of good repair, although the legal responsibilities still stand.

Being a Churchwarden at St Matthias is much more than all of that. Over the past quarter of a century I have seen many changes both within the Church itself and in the community we serve.

The greatest observation I would make is that over the past ten years I have seen the regular Sunday morning congregation grow from an average of 25 to 65 people and at major festivals to nearer 150. I have seen St Matthias change from a Church with a congregation to "a family in Christ" caring for and about one another, a community where God is at the centre and where an active prayer life together is the most important part of all of our activities. A community of people far more in touch and "in tune" with the wider community, within the Parish.

In fact, I see a parish Church functioning as it should, a community that for all the difficulties that beset the Christian Church in the complexities of this 21st century society in which we live, is successfully spanning the years reaching back even before the introduction of the ancient office of Churchwarden to the traditions of the early Church and "the Gospel way of life", I see a people, a family I am pleased to be a member of and proud to serve as a Churchwarden.

Dave Brooks

Churchwarden/Lay Reader

St. Matthias Overseas Project

Every year St. Matthias supports an overseas project and over the last 10 years we have raised a total of £10,375. for the past few years we have given our support to the Mission Aviation Fellowship. MAF is a Christian Agency whose mission is to fly light aircraft in developing countries so that people living in remote areas can recieve the help they need. Since 1946 their planes have been speeding the sprread of the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ by word and deed, in places of deepest human need, isolated places where flying is not a luxury but a lifeline.

Every three minutes, an MAF plane is taking of or landing somewhere in the world. These flights enable crucial work by devolpment and aid agencies, missions,local churches and other national groups. Medical care, adequate food, clean water and Christian hope are reaching out to countless thousands of men, women and children.

Normally passengers contribute a highly subsidised fare towards the true cost but the MAF does not turn away desperate people just because they cannot pay. The balance that makes flights possible comes as a gift form those concerned that others should have a better life, spiritually and physically.

How do we raise our money? We do it by means of Special events, monthly cake stalls, Nigerian and Caribbean Evenings with food from these countries prepared by members of our congregation. We have enjoyed Jollof beef, corn bread and fried plantain from Nigeria and the Caribbean menu included seasoned chicken, vegetable Chow Mein and black-eye peas and rice.

How is our money used? We have bought a moped for the airfield in Chad, paid for spare parts for a plane in Ethiopia adn contributed to the 999 MEDEVAC fund. Medical evacuations are the bridge connecting poor, remote and rural people who would other wise die on a long, hazardous journey to the help that they need. The photo shows the type of plane in which a girl was flown to hospital in Tanzania. She had been bitten on the face by a cobra. Her face was swolen enormously and the flight to hospital saved her life.

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