Altar Guild
Contact: Richard Notley (Parish Office: 01483 567716)
The Holy Trinity and St Mary’s Altar Guild is an informal association
of the chalice ministers, servers and sacristans of the two churches.
(The clergy of the parish also attend). Its main purpose is to generate
fellowship between the members of the Guild, but it maintains regular
discussion on the forms of service and how the chalice ministers, servers
and sacristans can best serve the clergy and the congregation in the conduct
of the services. The clergy instruct the Guild members in liturgical and
spiritual matters.
The Guild usually meets three times a year, in the spring, the summer and the winter, the meetings being convened by the Altar Guild organiser. The spring meeting (usually, but not necessarily, in the beginning of Lent) is run and presented by a member of the clergy and is on a matter chosen by the priest in question. The winter meeting is to discuss matters arising during the year and is also used for training purposes. The summer meeting is a purely social occasion. The Guild provides Guildelines for the members which are updated regularly. In 2004 we had three training days for the chancel team, which were very successful.
The Rector selects the Chalice ministers but the Guild is always very pleased to have volunteers as servers and sacristans. Younger members of the congregation, even if not confirmed, are very welcome as servers. It is not difficult and is a very good way of being involved in the worshipping life of our church.
