Tale of Two Parishes

We were blessed with superb weather for the Open Gardens weekend, and lots of people came to enjoy one or both days.

A spectacular garden open to the public

Apart from the 24 gardens that were open, there were other attractions to complement the horticultural beauty.

A Fairy Competition attracted some very different displays along with alpacas and splendid historic sports cars, all added variety to one garden with the alpaca wool being spun in another.

There was a display of Victorian laundry with an 1880 washing machine, dolly-tub and nightdresses.

Impressive farm machinery attracted lots of attention, and our Martello Tower Museum was also open to show off its collection of Second World War militaria.

At least two model railway layouts and an art show added further variety while the Priory gardens, as always, pulled in the visitors with its backdrop of the historic buildings.

Gardens are hard to describe in words, but we had a splendid variety of shapes, sizes, styles and designs, with individuality the key to them all.

There was lots of colour, the roses were very good this year, with clematis in full flower as well.

A lot of hard work had been put in by garden owners, and our thanks are principally due to them, but Christine Harmon who organised the event again deserves special mention. She also opened her own lovely garden and hosted other attractions.

I must also thank those who stewarded at the Church and the Priory, welcoming visitors and selling the entry guide and all those who helped the garden openers and our thanks too to John Stiff for sponsoring out Garden Guide.

Several gardens raised money for their own charities, and we trust they did well.

It is too early to say how much will have been raised for the maintenance of the church.

The Friends raise money for the fabric of the Church, and £7500 was donated in the last two years towards new heating and lighting and the glazing of the tower arch to keep some of the heat in!

Sand on the beach at near by Jaywick

Our next fund-raiser is the annual Flower Festival which runs for all three days of the August Bank Holiday weekend (29-31 August 2009).

The theme, this year, will be 'Anniversaries and Celebrations' and there are lots of subjects for people to get their teeth into. Such as Cambridge University’s 800 years, Persil 100, Henry VIII 500 and the Essex Wildlife Trust at 50 - Our arrangers’ reputation for an exciting event looks assured.

P.S. Some of the Victorian laundry may appear on the Persil display!

The interregnum -  progress so far

Many people around the parish have been asking when we are going to have a new vicar and why it is taking so long to find a replacement.

The sun shone bright on St Osyth

Firstly, we should explain that when a parish priest leaves, there is what is known as a vacancy or interregnum. 

Some vacancies are filled very quickly; others can take a long time to fill. 

It is not like most jobs whereby when someone resigns the employer can immediately set in motion the process for finding a suitable replacement. 

In the Church of England when a vicar resigns he/she effectively gives up their 'living' in that parish.  

However, they still retain the right to that 'living' until they are installed in their new Parish. 

In Rev. Martin’s case, he did not give up his 'living' in St. Osyth until he was installed in Hoylake by the Bishop of Chester on Monday, 29, June. 

This meant for example, that we were able to start preparing our Parish Profile – a written insight into our parish for prospective applicants. 
 
In addition, the Bishop kindly agreed to have his first meeting with the Parochial Church Council (PCC) on 2, June. 

At this meeting Bishop Christopher outlined the decisions that the PCC need to make soon after Rev. Martin is installed in Hoylake.

At the next meeting on 6th July the PCC will:  

• Elect two formal representatives from the PCC to meet/interview candidates in the company of the Bishop and Archdeacon.
• Confirm or otherwise that we will accept applicants regardless of gender.
• Decide whether to ask the Bishop to advertise the post (e.g. in the Church Times) and when
• Finalise the 'Parish Profile'

Taking into account the process of advertising, short listing, interviewing and offering the position, it is therefore unlikely that we will see a new vicar installed in St. Osyth until at least the first quarter of 2010.

During the Interregnum, the church wardens and the Rural Dean are in charge of the parish.  Everything carries on as before and we have the excellent Revd Tony Pugsley from Walton and our own Revd Heather Connell to carry out all of our Services and pastoral work. 

In the meantime, hopefully, the vicarage will be let.