St Andrew’s Church Rippingale Change to Type 4 Festival ChurchThis is to communicate that the PCC has made the decision to change the status of St Andrew’s Church, Rippingale, from a Type 3 Community Church to a type 4 Festival Church with immediate effect. The definition of a Festival church was communicated by Lincoln Diocese as:Nationally and locally defined as Celebration or Festival Churches. Churches which remain asplaces of worship, but which cannot or do not wish to offer regular worship.They can be used for Festival or Celebration events – occasional services at, say, Harvest andChristmas. Also places for the spiritual and shared journeys of local residents – weddings and funerals.What are the implications and how will this be applied at Rippingale ?Ø The Church will remain under the control of the PCC, be part of the Rippingale community and as such we would wish to change as little as possible. We encourage parishioners and villagers to continue to provide valuable support, both financial and physical to enable the Church to remain a key feature of our village and available for activities outlined below.Ø The Church will be open during daytime at weekends but will be closed during the rest of the week , this will apply throughout the year.Ø Coffee Mornings currently held each first Tuesday of the month at 10.15am at the Church WILL CONTINUE as now.Ø The Church will be available for special services such as Weddings, Funerals and Baptisms. Ø Festival services may be held during the year, these may include: Plough Sunday , Easter , Rippingale Feast Service, Harvest , Remembrance , and Christmas – the type and regularity of services will depend on both the wishes of parishioners and the availability of Clergy/ALMs/ to hold/host the services. Some prayer meetings may be held with no formal church ministers required.Ø The Church will continue to hold Fund Raising events such as Quizzes, Feast Stalls, and other Social Events from time to time in order to raise funds primarily for the upkeep and repair and maintenance of the Church Building and Grounds.Ø The 200 Club will continue.Ø The PCC will continue to be responsible for the Church as it’s Trustees and stay in situ and manage the day-to-day requirements of the Church and Churchyard/Cemetery as well as the necessary work related to the Services that we do hold.Ø Regular Sunday Church Services such as Evensong and Eucharists will no longer be held at St Andrew’s Rippingale except on special occasions as noted above. Parishioners wishing to attend a Sunday Service, including Eucharist, will be able to do so by going to other local churches in the local mission partnership, information on these services will continue to be published via local publications and social media, as now.
