Rector holds party to thank volunteers who make churches tick

VOLUNTEERS from two Henley churches were given a thank-you party on Sunday.

More than 20 volunteers from St Mary’s Church in Henley and St Nicholas’s Church in Remenham gathered in the Chantry House in Hart Street for a meal and refreshments.

The event was organised by Fr Jeremy Tayler, rector of Henley with Remenham, who served drinks and finger food to volunteers who assist with bell-ringing, reading, cleaning, administration and other duties at the churches.

Fr Tayler said: “I think it’s really important to acknowledge the generosity of people who give with their time and their abilities and resources to support life at the church so it’s really important that we say thank you.

“It’s also really important socially that people get to meet each other. Probably the best example is the bell-ringers who, because they are up in the tower, we don’t see them a lot of the time.

“Likewise, having two parishes, it’s nice that the people get to mingle and see each other. They don’t necessarily see each other that much otherwise so it’s a good social event.”

Fr Tayler added that bell-ringing in the parish was in “good health” after recruiting new volunteers over the past two years.

He said roles which require a greater amount of time spent in them tend to be more difficult to fill, but that people “come out of the woodwork” when needed.

Fr Tayler said: “The bell- ringing is really in good health at the moment, I think the choir is in good health, we’ve got lots of people on the readers’ rota.

“The church positions that are always difficult to fill are the high-commitment things like treasurer, where you also need a specific skill set.

“We do have treasurers at both of the churches at the minute but I would love to have deputies so we could have a proper succession plan.

“We are really blessed with the people we have.”

Geoff Riglar is head of the bell-ringers at St Mary’s, who meet to rehearse every Monday for an hour and a half.

Mr Riglar, who has been bell-ringing for more than
60 years, started at St Mary’s Church 12 years ago after moving from Lincolnshire.

He said: “It’s an activity with other people and it’s a physical and mental activity as well, which is good as we are all gradually aging.

“It gives you a chance to meet the other people that you ring with outside the tower and meet other people involved with things in the church.”