Church Secretary’s Report for the year April 2007 – March 2008 

Membership: There are 39 church members and a further 18 people come regularly. The average weekly congregation is 35. Throughout the year there have been four Infant Baptisms preceded by a Thanksgiving service. 

Events in the life of the church for 2007-8: There was wedding blessing ceremony in July for two church members, people helped with the school summer fete and Christmas Fayre (singing carols), some helped again with ‘Love Gillingham’ and we attended the united service at the Black Lion. Chris and Bernie Pinner went to Uganda for two weeks in August. We were host to the BBC in September for the filming of a service as part of the Songs of Praise. Several island church folk joined the coach party that went to Jim Findlay’s induction service in Salisbury also in September. The successful Church Away Day at The Priory, Aylesford, later in September produced short, medium and longer term aims and an action plan for the church. The three main aspects identified were: To develop links with the school, to identify gifts of people within the church and to reach members of the island community.

We were joined by the Sea Scout unit again that meets in St Mary’s Island Community Centre for the Remembrance Service in November and members of the church together with the Salvation Army went carol singing round the island. There was a New Year’s Day walk followed by a 'bring and share' lunch.

Revd Nigel Uden, Moderator of the Southern URC Synod, took communion service in February. Five church members led morning worship in the school in March and many families from the school joined our Palm Sunday service recently.  

Life and Work of the church: The regular events are: the ladies coffee group (fortnightly), the Bible Study group (6 week study units) and Christianity Explored (10 week course), Women’s Open Worship and Prayer and Praise (monthly).  The music for worship has taken a different direction with the Music Director standing down and a music group now has weekly practices. The very successful café style Family services on the 4th Sunday of the month have been ably led by Chris Pinner and it is hoped to augment the personnel responsible for this aspect of worship.

The introduction of prayer triplets has commenced. This system is in its infancy but it is recognised that prayer is the powerhouse of the church.  Church members also join the school staff for prayer on the first Monday of each month at 8.25 a.m.

Our children’s work is on the brink of a new venture with a committed team of 6 people who will plan a teaching programme for two groups – 0-4 yr olds and 5- 11 yr olds (currently 12 identified children.) 

We continue to develop our outreach work through: Work with overseas students at the Greenwich campus in Dock Road, support of two children under the Toybox umbrella, support for people in Bufakhula financially, in person (Chris and Bernie) and via Food for the Hungry International. Some church members are sponsoring individual Ugandan children to enable them to continue their schooling.

During Lent we have supported Water Aid charity we continue to give monthly donations to GFYC and the Peninsular Youth for Christ and give regularly to Caring Hands (as well as members working for Caring Hands each week). We give our usual donation to St Mark’s as recognition of the wear, tear and use of utilities in the building. This year we gave each member of school staff a small gift at Christmas as a gesture of recognition, love and support for all the work they do.

There are some 12 members of the church involved with the school on a regular basis either as volunteers in the school, governors or paid members of the staff team. Members of the church will continue to lead an act of worship each term and there is a possibility that there will be church involvement in helping to run the weekly King’s Squad. We are actively encouraging the school to join with special services throughout the year also. 

Leadership

The support for our leadership team is strengthening - more are participating in the morning services under the direction of our Leadership team. We look forward to the finalisation of the re- Licensing of John Bloor, who will enhance the dimension of the leadership team. The church has welcomed the news that Martin Ferris has commenced a course of training within the URC with a view to offering himself for candidacy. 

The church is constantly changing – it cannot, nor must not stand still. We have a vision, we need to recognise the skills in ourselves and in others, build each other up and make our weaknesses our strengths. We recognise there will be changes of personnel- especially in the ministerial LEP leadership for all three churches. We look forward to working with Glen McWatt and pray that we will continue to touch and challenge the lives of those on St Mary’s Island.

St. Mary's Island School, Island Way West, Chatham Maritime

St. Mary’s Island Church of England - Aided - Primary School 

“Anchored in God on course for excellence” 

The Headteacher, Mrs Sharon Day writes, “St. Mary’s Island Primary School is a popular Medway school situated at the heart of St. Mary’s Island, Chatham Maritime.  The school caters for around 340 children at the moment with a total capacity of just over 400 children.  In line with the Trust Deed the school aims to provide the highest quality education for the children in our care, hence our revised Mission Statement this year, “Anchored in God on course for excellence”. The school is proud of its strong Christian ethos and sense of community. There is a close partnership with the Diocese of Rochester as well as the Local Education Authority and the Island Church. 

The school is a well ordered and caring community where every child is valued.  The aim is always to develop positive attitudes to learning in all children and the school strives to work in a close, two way partnership with parents, acknowledging their role as the prime educators of their own children.   

Children are expected to behave well in and around school, understanding the school’s expectations of good manners, honesty, care and self discipline. Praise is central in teaching and well behaved children are rewarded.  Children are encouraged to develop an increasing understanding of other people’s feelings, values and beliefs and essential life skills.  The school believes that children should enjoy their learning experience and be supported in achieving their highest potential.  The Governing Body aims to provide the best possible resources and the highest staffing levels to meet the diverse needs of all the children both within and beyond the National Curriculum. 

Pupils are offered a carefully planned, imaginative curriculum, delivered by a highly qualified and committed staff. Through varied and exciting teaching, children are encouraged to grow in confidence as learners, to develop their ability to communicate ideas and feelings and to embrace the spiritual, moral, social and cultural aspects of modern life.” 

Many of the families at St. Mary’s Island School come from the immediate locality, but the Governors are always pleased to receive children from across the Medway Towns. Up to ten percent of places throughout the school are reserved, in the first instance, for children with a Church background.  With our close proximity to the Royal Engineers we also have families from overseas and the school prides itself on the care and understanding extended towards these families also.

 The OfSTED Inspection in November ’07 drew attention to the exemplary behaviour of all the children noting that they are friendly, courteous, and well motivated.  The standard of teaching is good and both governors and staff are committed to raising the levels of achievement of all children throughout the school.  During this past year fifteen of the year 6 pupils qualified for places at a Medway grammar school. In Literacy we are amongst the top ten schools in the country, in KS2 results all our pupils scored level 4 in science and in Numeracy, almost eighty percent gained a level 4 with twenty four percent at level 5.