A new successful scheme for church cleaning was introduced back in 1920 and used the voluntary help of members of the congregation. This method is still in use today.

Many people say how much they appreciate the welcoming warmth and brightness of St. James's. This is achieved in various ways. Each week, usually on Friday or Saturday, the church is cleaned by members of a team, usually by two people working together. All the cleaners have been doing the job for many years.

Those on the weekly cleaning rota work once a month - two people can do it in about an hour-and-a-half. All the equipment you need is kept in the vestry porch though there is nothing to stop you bringing your own. The weekly clean involves sweeping the wood and tiled floors and hoovering (well, dyson-ing!) the carpet; polishing the brass (candlesticks, cross, wall plaques); running a duster over the pews and choir stalls, and tidying the kneelers and chairs.

All this work needs helpers! More volunteers would be very welcome. Also, the churchyard needs gardeners to keep it looking as good as the church. The church's immediate surroundings are swept and tidied meticulously each week by a husband-and-wife effort.

Together with the other disciplines of Lent, the annual cleaning of our church building is a preparation for Easter. This is a grand session of very thorough 'spring cleaning' carried out by a group of volunteers who do a 'mass attack'. This lasts one or two days and absolutely everything is cleaned, scrubbed and polished. The high-level areas, roof trusses, window ledges, column caps and chandeliers are dusted. The chairs are dusted, the pews polished and all floors are sealed and carpets hoovered. This dusting and sweeping includes the vestry, all the porches, the belfry and the clock chamber. The tiled floors are washed and sealed.

There are usually many willing helpers to share the load, for however short or long a time they can spend. Great fun is had by all! The annual gutter and drain clear-out usually happens in the autumn.

Both events are advertised in the pew sheet and helpers are welcome. Bryan Basdell (see contacts below) plans the work, and it is helpful to him if you see him well before the work starts, so that he can assign jobs and everyone knows what they are to do and what to bring for the clearing.