Profile of Chalk Church Geography, Facilities and History.

St Mary the Virgin, Chalk is often known as "Chalk Church". The main building is surrounded by fields and is quite separate from the population of Chalk, a village on the outskirts of Gravesend. The setting is therefore semi-rural(ish).

We have some great assets in our people (more later) and through the development of our buildings etc. The main church building is mediaeval. The church experienced growth following World War 11 as vision and energy built upon opportunities of transport and more housing.

Since this period disabled access arrangements, new bells, stained-glass windows, banners, a balcony, lavatory, audio-visual and refreshment facilities have been added. In addition to the church and churchyard the "plant" indudes8 large car park, two barns (equipped as meeting rooms, e.g. for Young Church/Sunday School) and a woodland/grassed area of about 3 acres.

In the village there is also a large site where we are in the process of replacing the Parish Hail The previous incumbent retired after being in post for 32 years. He achieved a phenomenal amount - certainly far more than most. Nevertheless, significant management, financial and liturgical problems were left and have had to be addressed over the past eight years.

Overview of Current Situation.

Numbers and liturgical Worship. About 120 adults will come to our services on anyone Sunday. The church's Electoral Roll is 215. The number in the Young Church is small although a larger number come to the Family Service.

While the Services are all "low" or evangelical, shown in emphases on scriptural teaching, lay involvement (in preaching, reading, praying) and a simplicity of worship style (minimal ritual, simple vestments etc), they are nevertheless extremely varied in format and style. This variation reflects the differences between modernizers and traditionalists. In many ways this diversity is a strength (there is a niche for almost everyone) although it also has its tensions.

Evangelism, Social Concern and Wider Mission.

Occasional Offices and "Special Services", e.g. Christingle and Harvest are significant in our outreach. We also run a weekly coffee morning and termly lunches for the village, particularly reaching out to the elderly. We have a monthly pattern of visiting roads in the parish which links into prayer requests and invitations to our monthly Parade & Family Service.

We have recently become committed (through prayer, finance and the building of relationships) to a community centre for HIV/AIDS orphans and widows in Chipulukusu, Zambia. It was founded by of one of our congregation who makes regular visits; we were instrumental in giving continuing oversight by establishing a three-way partnership that includes the nearby cathedral at Ndola.

It is hoped that this partnership will encourage a greater outward focus in the congregation and something that will capture the imagination of the teenagers who may eventually become involved in short-term mission there.

Thinking, Praying, Structures and Demographics.

In addition to the regular services, thought and prayer are encouraged through various groups and courses. Home and small groups were once very significant but like the congregation, membership has aged and through death of key members several have ceased to exist. Nevertheless, several remain and two have started in the last five years.

In addition, more young adults have begun to join the congregation. Chalk Church is certainly busy (e.g. regular community and social events, evangelism and fund-raising) with a large volunteer staff (8 PAs and 3 Readers) in addition to the Vicar.

The diversity of Chalk often means that there is potential for disagreement. Nevertheless, PCC meetings now work well. The Churchwardens are giving continuing encouragement to PCC members who probably still need to be willing to take a greater lead in the carrying out of decisions.

Finances.

Making ends meet is a constant concern. Regular expenditure each year is approximately £90k, including contributions to the wider church (and charitable grants more generally) of over £15k.There are no grants received towards our regular expenditure.

Although Chalk is not poor it is far from affluent. In the older part of Chalk many houses are terraced or semi-detached; there are also two blocks of flats and a mobile home development. Travellers often stay on sites in Chalk and Denton marshes.

New homes are being built all the time on the marshes as part of the Gateway development. Despite sacrificial giving, our needs are nowhere near met without a multiplicity of fund raising events, fee and (when it is there) rental income from the Hall. Artist's Impression of the New Hall.

Important Current/Future Issues.

We have just refurbished the barns adjacent to the church to improve our Sunday School facilities and to provide facilities for the church and village while the Hall in the village is demolished and Hall rebuilt (we hope) for April next year.

This latter is a large project (total cost C£500,000). There is also a hope to add further lavatories to the main church building, which (together with the excellent audiovisual facilities, the car park, refreshment facilities, and woodland/grassed area) will make the church an ideal choice for day conferences as well as Sunday worship, weddings (c15pa) etc.

We need to be more effective in our work with young adults and their children. We need to train a new generation of lay staff.

We live in exciting times: