At the St Mary’s Lapworth annual meeting on 25th April, Liz Kenny was elected as a new churchwarden to serve alongside Mike Parkes, who was re-elected.
And at the St Michael’s Baddesley Clinton annual meeting on 24th April, Michael Morris was elected as a new churchwarden to serve alongside Ruth McCormack, who was re-elected.
The office of Churchwarden can be traced back to the 13th Century. Parish Churches usually have two churchwardens elected by the people to work collaboratively with the incumbent and to act as the bishop’s lay officers in the parish. Churchwardens have particular responsibilities for the fabric of the church and are the legal custodians of the church’s moveable goods. Both our churches contain ancient, heavy wooden chests in which the churches valuables could be kept safe. Typically, these had two locks so could only be opened when both churchwardens were present.
The work of churchwardens is greatly appreciated by parishioners, congregations and incumbents. Generous collections were taken for Hugh Roberts, as he stepped down after 17 years as churchwarden at Lapworth and Graham Hughes as he stepped down after 20 years at Baddesley Clinton.