| The Parish Church of St James |  |
| St. James's Road, Hampton Hill, TW12 1DQ (Parish Office 020 8941 6003) | |
| RUNNING THE CHURCH | |
| Section
Contents: Bellringing | Behind
the Scenes | Churchwardens | Cleaning
| Clergy | Electoral Roll
| Finance | Flowers
| Parish Breakfast | Parochial
Church Council | Planned Giving
| Properties | Running
the Church Through the Years | Servers |
Sidespersons | Social Events |
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Sidespersons
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When you arrive in church,
the first person you are likely to meet is a sidesperson. A sidesperson
used to be called a 'sidesman'. The name is a corruption of the term
"synod's man", a title referring to prominent members of the
congregation who represented the parish to the Diocesan Synod. A
more meaningful term is welcomer. |
There
are three people on duty as welcomers at Sunday’s 9.30 service.
They arrive early enough to make sure everything the congregation will
need is ready for them - hymn numbers on the boards, service and hymn
books to hand, magazines and notices on display. During the service, particularly if there is a baptismal party, sidespersons may need to guide visitors through communion. |
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They also take the offertory and carry the bread and wine up to the
altar. They may help latecomers or parents with young children. After
the service, they put away the books and tidy up. Handing out books and pew sheets as people arrive gives sidespersons the opportunity to welcome visitors or newcomers and invite them to stay for coffee after the service. They provide all the help they need to make them feel at home in our church. |
| The duties are not onerous but you
do need to arrive early, stay focused and be alert to the needs of latecomers
and visitors. You can be on duty once a month or once a year but your
appointment, which has to be approved by the vicar and PCC at the
Annual Parochial Church Meeting, is for a year. |
| Further Information |
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Contact
Janet Taylor 020 8979 0046 |
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Latest Sidespersons APCM Report |